JOBS BOOST AS BABCOCK SECURES MULTI-MILLION POUND CONTRACT

Babcock has won a multi-million pound order from the UK Ministry of Defence that is expected to create nearly 100 new jobs. It is the first private sector investment success for the newly-formed Plymouth and South Devon Freeport.

The contract will see Babcock working with Devon-based defence vehicle designer and manufacturer Supacat on an order for 70 high mobility transports (HMT 400 series).

The deal will result in Babcock expanding its operations in the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport’s South Yard tax site.

The contract award for an undisclosed sum could lead to as many as 240 of the light armoured vehicles, should operational requirements demand.

Named ‘Jackal’ by the British Army, the HMT 400 series is a supremely versatile vehicle with unparalleled cross-country performance. Originally, developed in the 1990s, the Jackal builds on the success of Supacat’s original All Terrain Mobility Platform (ATMP).

The HMT platform vehicle has also proven itself internationally and is in service in Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and Estonia. Further export opportunities are currently being explored, bringing further investment to the South West.

Tom Newman, chief executive of Babcock’s Land Sector, said: “This order is fantastic news for both Babcock and the local community in Plymouth. As a world-class engineering partner, we are delighted to be taking a key role in the production of this new phase of the Jackal platform, a truly British designed and manufactured vehicle.

“We are proud to be playing our part in supporting the British Army’s Land Industrial Strategy by securing critical industrial skills and capabilities and enhancing social value, including the creation of 90 new jobs.

“This new contract shows how British industry can work collaboratively to rapidly respond to defence requirements and deliver in short timescales. The HMT 400 series is also not only a battle-proven vehicle but a fantastic export asset in its own right, and our chosen build location in the Freeport zone of Plymouth will enhance its export prospects.”

Nick Ames, chief executive for Supacat, said: “This is an enormously important contract win for us. Primarily it further evidences our customer’s confidence in our HMT 400 product after 20 years of service. Furthermore it gives us a platform to secure potential export orders and thereby shows how investment in UK products can provide benefit to the wider UK economy.”

The contract further builds on Babcock’s well-established relationship with Supacat, having worked together to meet the demand for Afghanistan when over 600 vehicles were assembled at Devonport within a three-year period.

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