Supacat and KNDS announce partnership to deliver next-generation military vehicles from Devon

Devon-based defence engineering firm Supacat has announced a major partnership with KNDS Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG (KNDS) to manufacture a new range of light and medium protected vehicles in the UK, a move expected to create hundreds of jobs in Devon and across the South West.

The collaboration, part of the UK Ministry of Defence’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP), could result in a multi-million-pound order for hundreds, potentially thousands, of military vehicles to be built on British soil.

Under the agreement, Supacat and KNDS will jointly develop solutions for the light and medium/heavy protected mobility categories, focusing on the Dingo 3 platform and Armoured Command and Liaison Vehicle (ACLV) variants. The partnership aims to deliver a family of vehicles tailored for the MoD’s future Troop Carrying Vehicle (TCV), Ambulance, and Command roles.

The partnership combines KNDS’s pedigree as a Tier 1 prime contractor, including its delivery of the Boxer vehicle from its UK facility in Stockport, with Supacat’s innovation, agility, and local manufacturing expertise. Together, they aim to provide the MoD with a flexible and responsive industrial base capable of adapting to evolving operational demands.

As part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Supacat will lead UK-based manufacturing, design adaptation, and integrated support from its new, state-of-the-art production facility in Devon. This ensures that vehicle production, integration, and through-life support remain within the UK, bringing significant economic and industrial benefits to the region.

The partnership also opens the door for Supacat’s renowned HMT platform - the preferred Special Forces vehicle worldwide - to be offered to European Union countries through KNDS, one of Europe’s leading defence contractors.

This collaboration aligns closely with the UK Government’s Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), reinforcing the nation’s sovereign manufacturing base, supporting high-value engineering jobs, and developing export opportunities from the UK. Vehicles produced in Devon may also be sold internationally through KNDS’s global network.

The initiative fits within the MoD’s broader Land Mobility Programme, which seeks to modernise and rationalise the British Army’s land fleet by replacing numerous legacy vehicle types with common, adaptable platform families, such as Supacat’s HMT Jackal Series, that are more maintainable, deployable, and cost-effective.

KNDS contributes extensive experience in developing and supporting combat-proven armoured vehicles, including the Dingo family, which has served with ten NATO and allied nations. Supacat, known for its highly mobile HMT series, brings deep expertise in meeting British defence requirements and delivering bespoke solutions for UK and allied forces.

Commenting on the partnership, Nick Ames, Chief Executive of parent company SC Group, said:

“This promises to be a transformational opportunity on a number of levels, not least for Supacat which has been at the fore of UK innovation in defence vehicle design and manufacture, but for the South West region which is steeped in rich military expertise and knowhow. The opportunity for jobs, pan-European collaboration and shared economic development are enormous.”