Plymouth jobs boost as Babcock lands money-spinning new deal

Production will start on this new order early next year

Plymouth-based defence giant Babcock International Group and Devon manufacturer Supacat have been awarded a lucrative contract to build an extra 53 armoured vehicles for the British Army.

The companies started production of 70 Jackal 3 personnel carriers at Babcock’s new factory in the South Yard at Devonport earlier this year and will now make even more of the high mobility transporters (HMVs).

The value of the contract has not been revealed. But the initial deal for 70 vehicles was said to be worth tens of millions of pounds to the firms and resulted in about £42.5m being paid to 73 supply chain companies - of which half were in the South West.

Babcock and Dunkeswell-based Supacat started production on the initial 70 Jackal 3s under one of the first contracts to deliver on the UK’s Land Industrial Strategy. The vehicles were designed by Supacat and assembled at Devonport.

This subsequent order is said to be testament to the close working relationship between the British Army, the Ministry of Defence - Defence Equipment & Support, Babcock and Supacat.

Production will start on this new order in early 2025 at Devonport with delivery of the vehicles expected in early 2026 - securing 100 Babcock jobs in the South West.

This programme is directly helping to fulfil the economic potential of the region with nearly all its supply chain in the UK and 50% from the South West. The programme is also helping people back into work.

Babcock’s Skills-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP) participants can earn health and safety qualifications, wellbeing in the workplace training, mindset coaching and support in finding employment, with the potential for securing employment with Babcock after attending SWAP. So far 11 SWAP attendees have been awarded full-time jobs on the Jackal Programme.

Babcock’s land sector chief executive Tom Newman said: “This contract delivers a critical boost to the British Army with a vehicle that is the most capable and versatile in its class.

Babcock is here to ensure that the British Army is ready to fight and win wars on land and while doing so, I am very proud that we are also securing jobs in the South West and delivering on the Land Industrial Strategy.”

The Jackal is the most versatile high-mobility weapons platform in its class, equally capable of reconnaissance, patrol and logistic tasks. It is battle-proven in Afghanistan.

This new contract for a six-wheeled “extenda” variant will be known as the Jackal 3(E). The additional axle enables greater load carrying whilst still maintaining exemplary off-road performance, capable of speeds up to 120km/h.

Initially developed to meet an urgent operational requirement for Afghanistan, the British Army has made Jackal integral to its land tactics and operations with Jackal variants used for “deep battlespace” reconnaissance, rapid assault, fire support roles and for convoy protection.

Supacat’s managing director Phil Applegarth said: "Firstly, we are enormously proud that Supacat’s Jackal 3 ‘extenda’ is now adding to the Army’s Land Fleet.

We have demonstrated the modularity and ease of integrating specific mission winning systems and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with the UK MoD and our industry partners in the near future.

“Secondly, we are enormously pleased that our partnership with Babcock and Devonport continues to produce Jackal 3 and now the Jackal 3 ‘extenda’ following The British Army’s Land Industrial strategy and the huge benefits to both the UK and local economies through social value. Coming so soon after last year’s order is a real boon for the company”.

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