Autos

Iconic motor dubbed ‘workhorse of the British army’ to be AXED after 75 years as MoD hunts new all-terrain vehicle


 IT’S the end of the road for the iconic British Army Land Rover.

The 4×4 vehicle is set to be replaced as the UK government officially starts the search for new vehicles.

British Land Rover patrol vehicle in Lashkar Gar, Afghanistan.

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The request for replacement vehicle supply interest has been given a deadline of 21 February 2025Credit: SWNS
British Army Land Rover in snowy forest.

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Described as the workhorse of the British Army, the first batch of Series I Land Rovers were purchased by the military in 1949Credit: SWNS
Funeral procession of Prince Philip at Windsor Castle, with his coffin on a Land Rover hearse.

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The funeral procession of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, his coffin borne by Land Rover hearse in procession to St George’s ChapelCredit: SWNS

The Ministry of Defence are also looking to replace the Austrian-made Pinzgauer all-terrain vehicle, that has seen use as a troop carrier and firefighting resource.

Described as the workhorse of the British Army, the first batch of Series I Land Rovers were purchased by the military in 1949.

When the British Army purchased its first trial batch of Series I Land Rovers, it was initially designed as an all-purpose vehicle .

Various models have been incorporated over the years, with the Defender Wolf entering model service with enhanced capabilities in 1997.

The Defender itself is a symbol of British engineering excellence.

From the Series I with its 80-inch wheelbase and 50bhp petrol engine to the Series II with its rounded shoulders and upgraded two-and-a-quarter-litre engine, each iteration pushed the boundaries of design and utility.

Prince Philip used a Land Rover Defender as his hearse, which he personally designed over 16 years.

The Ministry of Defence published a call on Friday (10 Jan) for manufacturers to tender for the next generation of fighting vehicles.

The “open early engagement” describes “a requirement for the production, supply, in-service support and training for a Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) as part of the Land Mobility Programme (LMP).”

The process will explore multiple options, including delivery of a wheeled utility platform to modernise capability in roles currently filled by Land Rover and Pinzgauer with a “Common Based Platform” delivering warfighting roles across the Joint Force.

Tender details include the potential for an Off The Shelf (OTS) solution to meet the LMV requirement, as well as a call for life cost and cost of ownership of the transport.

In September 2024, the government announced a £71 million contract to extend the life of the armoured vehicle fleet, including the entire Land Rover and Pinzgauer fleet, until the end of the decade.

A Ministry of Defence announcement at the time said: “This will deliver greater value for money and fill the gaps of new vehicle programmes being delivered, maintaining capability in the interim.

They added: “The contract will help to maintain a fleet of more than 15,000 land vehicles for the next 4 years by consolidating former individual contracts, providing a new single point of contact.”

The request for replacement vehicle supply interest has been given a deadline of 21 February 2025.

A military Watchkeeper UAV being prepared at RAF Akrotiri.

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Pictured is the 47th Regiment Royal Artillery Watchkeeper UAV being prepared at RAF AkrotiriCredit: SWNS
British soldiers in a Land Rover driving on a beach after exiting a C-130 transport plane.

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The 4×4 vehicle is set to be replacedCredit: SWNS



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