This month, the UK's Ministry of Defence has published a request for information indicating that it is beginning the search for a Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) as part of the Land Mobility Program (LMP). This means that the ministry will be collecting proposals from manufacturers for evaluation.
Essentially, this marks the launch of a program aimed at replacing vehicles such as the Land Rover and Pinzgauer, which are set to be phased out by the end of this decade. According to The War Zone, the number of Land Rover and Pinzgauer vehicles in 2022 was reported to be 7,837 units, indicating that this is a significant undertaking.
While the LMP primarily focuses on streamlining the military vehicle fleet, the goal is to reduce the number of vehicle types from over 12 to three:
- medium protected vehicle weighing up to 20 tons;
- light protected vehicle weighing up to 10 tons;
- light vehicle weighing less than 3.5 tons.
As for the program timeline, it was outlined last year—the tender is expected to launch this fall, with contract awards anticipated by October 2026, and a minimum deployment expected by 2029, with the light vehicle being the first in line.
An important aspect of this story is that it concerns the replacement of a vehicle that has served the British military for over 75 years, dating back to 1949 when the first Land Rover Series 1 was introduced, which has undergone updates and modernizations over the years.
As of today, both the Land Rover and Pinzgauer continue to be supported in the UK; for instance, a contract was signed last year for £86 million for spare parts and other services. If the Land Rover indeed lasts until 2030, its total service life will amount to 81 years.
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