Jackal Mk 3 v Foxhound GMRV – A quick guide. Throughout January and February 2025, NATO allies conducted Exercise Steadfast Dart 25 to showcase the new Allied Reaction Force, which can rapidly reinforce NATO’s eastern flank.
As part of the deployment stage, hundreds of professional military drivers and mechanics from 1st (UK) Division, moved vehicles and equipment across Europe to Romania. As well as tankers and mechanised armoured vehicles like the Mastiff, the convoys included the Foxhound and Jackal, which have been upgraded with a series of enhancements that will improve operational effectiveness and safety. Here we discuss what makes them stand apart.
High Mobility Transporter (HMT) Jackal Mk 3
The Jackal is the army’s multi-role workhorse which has been an essential part of the British Army’s kit since it was first developed for urgent tasks during the Afghanistan conflict. Since then, the off-road patrol and fire-support vehicle has remained popular with drivers, commanders and gunners who rate it for its toughness and versatility, and its ability to move at speed through all types of terrain.
The Jackal Mk2 was a class leader, but the Jackal Mk3, which has been under development for the last 10 years by Devon based defence contractor Supacat, has some important upgrades that will allow it to be more effective in operations as well as improving protection for the crew.
The suspension has been uprated to give additional payload and even better off-road performance and it is fitted with an upgraded engine that will ensure additional performance and economy. Importantly for safety, despite being an open top model for maximum situational awareness, it now has even more rollover protection. Its tried and tested armoured protection of the crew compartment is effective against both blasts and projectiles, something which has been proven in the field.
The Jackal 3 Extenda series can be transformed into a 6×6 vehicle which will increase its stability and versatility even further and more than double its load carrying capacity.
Supplied with an optional mine blast and ballistic protection kit, the HMT platform can also be fitted with a variety of mission specific load beds, weapons, communications, ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance) and force protection equipment to suit a wide range of operational roles.
Foxhound General Multi-Role Vehicle
The Foxhound Light Protected Patrol Vehicle has been widely used by members of the UK Army since the Afghan war. It’s well known for its IED resistant V shaped hull, which deflects the power of exploding ordinance underneath the vehicle, protecting the people inside and preventing damage.
All ranks gave positive feedback on the Foxhound because of the flexibility, reliability and unprecedented blast protection for its size and weight.
General Dynamics UK has launched a new variant known as the Foxhound General Multi-Role Vehicle (GMRV) and a Command Variant which incorporates a sophisticated communications suite, which has been designed and manufactured in-house at General Dynamics UK’s facility in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales.
With its cutting-edge design and modular adaptability, the GMRV manoeuvres quickly and effectively, reaching speeds up of 50 mph (80 km/h) in 19.75 seconds, powered by a Steyr M16-Monoblock diesel engine, connected to a ZF 6HP28X 6-speed automatic transmission.
Its wheels function independently, so it can continue to move at pace even if one of the wheels is damaged or blown off. When needed, highly skilled mechanics can remove and replace the engine in 30 minutes. Its ability to navigate challenging terrains, sand and deep mud, means it can be used effectively across all kinds of terrain at any time of the year in all weathers.
The latest Command upgrade includes advanced communication systems and is tailored to meet the complex operational demands of modern warfare, ensuring that military units can maintain seamless connectivity and coordination in challenging environments.
The enhanced high-frequency (HF), very-high-frequency (VHF), and ultra-high-frequency (UHF) functionalities will be integrated, enabling seamless operation of Bowman data terminals.
These changes mean that the Foxhound GMRV will be the first British military vehicle to meet the MoD’s recent Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) requirements. The GVA requirements are intended to create a single, standard digital electronic and electrical architecture for UK vehicles.
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