Babcock International has confirmed that the first Jackal 3 Extenda all-terrain vehicles have rolled off its Devonport production line, marking the formal launch of deliveries under the second tranche of the British Army’s Jackal 3 programme. The milestone represents a significant step in the renewal of the Army’s high-mobility wheeled fleet and highlights the enduring industrial partnership between Babcock and Supacat, whose HMT platform continues to underpin the Jackal vehicle family.
The latest production batch concerns the six-wheeled Extenda variant of the Jackal 3, designated Jackal 3 (E). Based on Supacat’s HMT Extenda modular architecture, this variant is an evolution of the four-wheel-drive Jackal 3, featuring an additional axle that increases internal volume and payload capacity while retaining the off-road performance for which the Jackal lineage is renowned. In its 6×6 configuration, the HMT Extenda platform offers a gross vehicle weight of up to 12 tonnes and a payload capacity of approximately 4.2 tonnes—nearly double that of the 4×4 version—allowing for the integration of heavier mission equipment or additional stores.
According to Babcock, the Jackal 3 Extenda is designed to support a wide range of operational roles, including reconnaissance, patrol, and support missions, particularly in scenarios requiring extended range, endurance, and operational flexibility. The vehicle is built to handle demanding terrain, combining high mobility with adjustable ride height via an independent air suspension system. This system enables the vehicle to adapt to varying terrains and payloads while reducing physical strain on both crew and equipment—a hallmark feature of the HMT platform throughout its operational history.
Production is underway at Babcock’s Devonport facility in South West England, emphasizing the programme’s contribution to sustaining skilled defence-industrial employment and domestic supply chains. Under the collaborative framework, Supacat provides the vehicle design and core architecture, while Babcock is responsible for assembly, systems integration, and final delivery. Babcock describes the programme as a prime example of UK-based industrial capabilities being mobilized to meet the evolving requirements of the British Army, particularly in specialist land mobility.
The Jackal 3 Extenda also reflects a broader trend in UK land forces toward highly mobile, rapidly deployable platforms capable of operating over extended distances. Wheeled systems such as the Jackal offer a different balance of mobility, endurance, and protection compared with heavier tracked platforms, particularly for light cavalry and reconnaissance units. The HMT Extenda platform supports this operational approach with features including long road range, high cross-country mobility, and compatibility with air transport assets such as the C-130 Hercules, A400M Atlas, and C-17 Globemaster III, as well as helicopter underslung transport in certain configurations.
The Jackal family has a well-established operational history with British forces, having been deployed extensively on overseas operations for more than a decade. Early variants were initially procured to meet urgent operational needs and have since evolved through multiple upgrades. The current Jackal 3 generation incorporates enhancements in payload, modularity, and growth potential. The Extenda configuration, enabled by the platform’s modular architecture, allows the vehicle to accommodate a broader range of mission systems—including weapon mounts, communications equipment, and protection packages—while maintaining situational awareness for the crew.
From an industrial perspective, the Jackal 3 Extenda programme illustrates the continuation of a long-standing collaboration between the Ministry of Defence and UK-based land-systems suppliers. While Babcock’s announcement does not disclose contract values or total quantities beyond the vehicles entering production, it confirms that the Extenda variant is part of an ongoing production effort rather than a limited batch. The Devonport rollout therefore signals a transition from earlier Jackal 3 deliveries to a new phase of fleet expansion centered on the six-wheel configuration.
The first vehicles leaving the production line represent a tangible step in the British Army’s high-mobility modernization effort. The announcement confirms that the programme has progressed beyond contractual and design stages into sustained industrial output, while reinforcing the role of UK industry in delivering and supporting specialist land-mobility capabilities.
As additional Jackal 3 Extenda vehicles enter service, they are expected to play an increasingly prominent role within the Army’s light and medium forces. Combining a mature operational concept with updated vehicle architecture and domestic industrial support, the Extenda variant exemplifies how incremental evolution in military vehicle design can deliver tangible operational benefits, enhance flexibility in the field, and maintain the United Kingdom’s strategic capability to deploy highly mobile forces globally.
The Jackal 3 Extenda marks a continuation of the British Army’s commitment to balancing mobility, protection, and versatility, ensuring that its forces are equipped with vehicles capable of meeting the complex demands of modern operations. With the first batch now produced, the Army is poised to expand its high-mobility fleet, reinforcing the enduring relevance of the Jackal platform in UK defence strategy.
