The United Kingdom has begun retiring its large fleet of iconic Land Rover vehicles. On Thursday, March 19, a special event took place with Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry Luke Pollard in attendance. The event focused on the legacy of these legendary vehicles and their future replacement. Industry representatives were also present, showcasing potential successors to the long-serving platform, according to a press release by the UK Ministry of Defence.
"Land Rover and the British Army share an extraordinary history, and the image of a Land Rover in military livery is truly iconic. As we look to the future of light mobility, it is right to pay tribute to this remarkable fleet that has served our armed forces so faithfully. I am launching the competition to deliver a new vehicle, ensuring our personnel are equipped with modern capability," Pollard stated.
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As of last year, more than 5,000 Land Rover vehicles were in service with the British Army. Numerous variants have been developed over time, including ambulance, reconnaissance, and amphibious versions. The platform has been in service since 1949, giving it nearly 80 years of operational history.
It is worth recalling that discussions emerged last year about whether the UK might transfer retired Land Rover Defender vehicles to Ukraine. However, no such plans have been publicly or privately confirmed to date.
At the same time, Ukraine's Defense Forces could potentially use these vehicles not only as manned platforms but also experiment with converting them into unmanned ground vehicles.
It should also be noted that all 5,000 vehicles will not be retired at once. The process is expected to take several years. A firm contract for a new Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) under the Land Mobility Programme (LMP) is planned to be signed this year, with initial low-rate deliveries expected in 2029.
Potential replacements are already being proposed. For example, South Korea's KIA is offering its KLTV platform, often described as a Humvee-like vehicle, and is promoting delivery timelines that could meet the UK’s requirements.
A key step in replacing the Land Rover fleet will be reducing the number of vehicle types to three categories: a light vehicle up to 3.5 tons, as well as light and medium protected vehicles weighing up to 10 tons and 20 tons respectively.
Earlier, Defense Express reported that Spain is finally replacing the unsuccessful Santana Anibal vehicles with the VMTT Landtrek.
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