GM Defense [GM] and British firm Jankel have established a new memorandum of understanding to pursue mobility program opportunities in the U.S., U.K. and Europe, the companies said Tuesday.
The two firms noted their agreement will include an initial focus on opportunities to collaborate on offering GM Defense’s Heavy-Duty Sport Utility Vehicle (HD SUV) and its international variant, the Integrated Armored Vehicle (IAV).
“GM Defense is looking forward to collaborating with Jankel, who can help support mobility solutions such as the HD SUV and IAV,” Steve duMont, president of GM Defense, said in a statement. “Aligning our capabilities with companies like Jankel, who have a proven track record among global defense and government customers, is important as GM Defense seeks to meet the needs of the U.K. Ministry of Defense’s Land Industrial Strategy and to help modernize the mobility platforms of our allies.”
The U.S. State Department recently awarded GM Defense a deal worth up to $300 million to deliver its armored HD SUV for its Diplomatic Security Service (Defense Daily, Dec. 1).
Tuesday’s announcement noted Jankel is “one of the leading global suppliers of civilian armored vehicles,” adding the British firm is a “key supplier of full-service support packages that include the complete spectrum of in-service vehicle support.”
“Experts in the conversion of a variety of base platforms to meet the demanding protection requirements of these customers, Jankel has delivered over 2000 specialist protected platforms to more than 15 global customers, including U.K., Europe and elsewhere,” GM Defense said in its announcement.
Andrew Jankel, the company’s chairman, cited the MoU with GM Defense as a “key step for Jankel as we continue to grow our global footprint in the defense and security vehicle space.”
“In selecting Jankel, GM Defense has recognized our strong position in the U.K. and Europe, and we look forward to pursuing joint support opportunities for GM Defense’s IAV. [While] our initial focus will be on support for the IAV, the collaboration allows for a broadening of the scope to include other GM Defense products and services provided we find suitable joint opportunities. We very much look forward to growing this important relationship,” Jankel said.
Jankel announced in June 2022 it was partnering with Oshkosh Defense [OSK] to offer the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) to the British Armed Forces, citing it is an opportunity to offer a platform to meet the U.K’s new Land Industrial Strategy while offering benefits from “leveraging local manufacture, design, integration, on-shore SME supply chain, and through life support capabilities” (Defense Daily, June 27 2022).
The U.K. recently canceled its Multi-Role Vehicle-Protected (MRV-P) program, under which the JLTV was a potential option to be procured via the U.S. foreign military sales process.
GM Defense also recently detailed a new teaming agreement with Anduril Industries, which it said is focused on “delivering autonomy solutions, battery electrification and other new propulsion technologies, as well as those integrating the full range of Anduril technologies onto GM Defense mobility solutions” (Defense Daily, Oct. 12).
GM Defense is currently delivering its Infantry Squad Vehicles to the Army, with the program approved for full-rate production earlier this year (Defense Daily, April 5).