Ford, GDLS and Ricardo Team Up on Ford Ranger-Based Bid for UK Military Light Vehicle Contract
Ford, GDLS and Ricardo will jointly bid for the UK Ministry of Defence's Light Mobility Vehicle programme with a commercial Ford Ranger converted for military duty.
- 7,000+
- more than 40%
- 11
- 4.5 tonnes
What Happened
Ford, General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) and Ricardo have joined forces to compete for the UK Ministry of Defence's Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) programme. The team is offering the Ford Ranger, Europe's undisputed leader in the pick-up truck segment, as a commercial derivative vehicle that is factory-ready and based on the 5-Star NCAP-rated Ford Ranger and Ranger Super Duty. By using a proven commercial platform with an existing supply chain, the companies say the MoD can cut development costs and time, and production volume can flex to meet fleet needs in a conflict. Together the companies employ more than 7,000 people across UK facilities, including engine production at Dagenham, advanced engineering at Dunton and sites in South Wales, and support thousands more through local supply chains. The proposal is built to sustain skilled UK jobs and homegrown engineering expertise.
- Europe's top-selling pick-up for 11 years; 1-tonne payload; up to 3.5-tonne towing capacity
- Payload of just under 2 tonnes; 8-tonne gross train mass; up to 4.5-tonne towing capacity
Ford's UK operation underpins the business case: Ford has more than 6,000 UK employees, advanced engineering at Dunton, engine production at Dagenham - where the Ranger's 3.0-litre V6 is made - e-drive production at Halewood, and parts distribution in Daventry. Ford holds more than 40 percent of Europe's pick-up truck market and says the programme aligns with its commercial vehicle growth strategy. Its history includes producing engines for the Allied effort in World War II and leading the UK consortium that rapidly made medical ventilators at Dagenham during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ford's UK service network includes 171 dealers, 405 authorised repair sites and 120 mobile service vans, while its European/global footprint includes more than 3,800 authorised repairers and 487 mobile service vans in Europe, helping sustain Army vehicles at home and abroad. Ford's global manufacturing and parts network also mitigates disruption by providing alternative supply options if one location is constrained, and the programme would create long-term economic benefits for South Wales and across the UK.
- Ford will provide the base platform, upfitting integration and aftersales support.
- GDLS will act as prime contractor, leading specialist defence systems integration and militarised conversion at its facilities in Merthyr Tydfil and Oakdale, South Wales.
- Ricardo will be the engineering partner, supporting the upfitting design to meet the British Army's operational requirements.
“The UK Ministry of Defence requires uncompromised capability, scale, and absolute reliability from day one. Our commercial off-the-shelf Ford Ranger platform does just this. By marrying the most trusted and dominant truck platform in Europe, powered by an engine built in Dagenham, and the integration expertise of GDLS and Ricardo, we are able to offer an immediate, scalable, and UK-supported mobility platform. Our team will give UK troops what they need to manoeuvre and win, while delivering, supply chain resilience and reinforcing the UK strategic industrial base. From the Second World War to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ford has always stood alongside the UK in times of need - we are answering the call to duty again today.”
“We are delighted to announce this partnership between Ford, Ricardo and GDLS, combining automotive scale, world-class engineering and trusted defence integration to support the British Army's future mobility needs. Built on GDLS and Ricardo's 15-plus years of collaboration and Ford's century of UK manufacturing investment, this partnership offers a low-risk, capable solution ready today and supportable for decades. Beyond vehicles, it strengthens UK sovereign capability, creates skilled jobs, and keeps Wales at the forefront of Britain's defence industrial base - while also laying the groundwork for future export opportunities and long-term growth for British industry.”
“We are delighted to be partnering with Ford and General Dynamics to develop innovative, adaptive solutions for military vehicle applications. Ricardo has over 100 years' experience in design, engineering and integration of advanced propulsion systems and remains at the forefront of supporting our customers in the UK and globally, with flexible, efficient and world leading solutions. We look forward working with our partners on these advanced, adaptive applications to protect those who protect us.”
Why this matters
Winning the LMV bid would give the British Army a proven commercial pick-up platform built and supported from UK facilities, reducing development cost and time for the Ministry of Defence. The three partners already employ more than 7,000 people across the UK, so the programme would help sustain skilled engineering and manufacturing jobs at Ford and GDLS sites in Wales and England while strengthening Britain's defence industrial base and future export prospects.
Terms in This Story
- LMV programme
- A UK Ministry of Defence programme to acquire light mobility vehicles for military use.
- commercial off-the-shelf
- A product bought in its existing civilian form rather than designed from scratch for the military.
- prime contractor
- The company with overall responsibility for delivering a contract, including managing its partners and subcontractors.
- through-life support
- Ongoing maintenance, spares, servicing and updates that keep a military vehicle operational over its service life.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.