Babcock has unveiled the first vehicles from the second production tranche of Jackal 3 Extenda (E) High Mobility Transporters for the British Army, with manufacturing taking place in Plymouth, United Kingdom. The rollout represents an important milestone in the UK’s efforts to rebuild and modernize its tactical vehicle fleet following the transfer of armored vehicles to Ukraine in support of its defense against Russia.
The second production batch was formally contracted in 2024 and covers the manufacture of up to 53 Jackal 3 E platforms. This follows an earlier agreement signed in 2023 for the delivery of 70 vehicles, with all units from the first batch expected to be delivered by the end of the current year. Babcock is delivering the program in close cooperation with Supacat, the original designer of the Jackal platform, through its facilities in Devon.
Beyond the initial two tranches, the British Army retains an option to procure up to 240 additional Jackal 3 vehicles, providing flexibility to scale the fleet in line with evolving operational requirements. The Jackal family was originally introduced in the 2000s to support rapid assault missions, reconnaissance operations, and convoy protection, offering high mobility and firepower in austere environments.
The Jackal 3 Extenda variant features an increased payload capacity and a configurable drivetrain, allowing operators to switch between 4×4 and 6×6 configurations. Measuring around 5 meters in length and operated by a three-person crew, the vehicle can be armed with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun or an automatic grenade launcher, supported by a 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun. Powered by a 185-horsepower diesel engine, the Jackal 3 E reaches speeds of 130 km/h and offers an operational range of up to 800 kilometers.
