Ford has joined forces with General Dynamics Land Systems UK and engineering firm Ricardo to compete for a major British Army contract, proposing militarized versions of its Ranger pickup truck. The partnership targets the UK Ministry of Defence's Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) program, which seeks roughly 2,500 light utility vehicles to replace the Army's aging Land Rover Defenders and Steyr-Puch Pinzgauers by 2030.
The proposal includes two Ford Ranger configurations: a modified 4x4 based on the Wildtrak trim and a more heavily converted six-wheeled 6x6 variant built on the Australian-developed Ranger Super Duty chassis. The 6x6 prototype pairs a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine producing 206 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque with a hybrid system featuring a rear-mounted electric motor that adds 282 horsepower, according to technical details previously shared by Ricardo.
General Dynamics described the offering as a "proven, scalable and cost-effective solution" that "meets the British Army's needs while creating significant export opportunities and maximizing value for the UK taxpayer." The program is part of a £4.8 billion ($6.5 billion) initiative, with evaluation trials scheduled between October 2026 and January 2027, as reported by Defense Blog and Army Technology.
The militarized Ranger is one of several contenders for the contract, competing against the Land Rover Defender Wolf Series II and proposals from General Motors and Ineos. Photos released by General Dynamics and Ford show two distinct prototypes: one resembling the Wildtrak trim with a bull bar, sports bar, and military wrap, and the more advanced 6x6 version featuring steel underbody armor, a heavy-duty transfer case, locking front and rear differentials, and reinforced suspension.
The 6x6 truck offers nearly 300 mm (11.8 inches) of ground clearance, water wading capability of 850 mm (33.5 inches), a towing capacity of 4,500 kg (9,921 lbs), and a payload rating of 1,982 kg (4,370 lbs). Inside, the standard 12-inch infotainment display integrates third-party tactical mission software for military operations.
Ford has confirmed that the turbodiesel engine is manufactured in London, with the hybrid system produced in Halewood. The company's Dunton facilities handle commercial vehicle engineering, technical development, and conversion design, while Daventry serves as the central logistics and parts distribution hub. Beyond the two prototypes, Ford has showcased additional military variants of the Super Duty, including configurations for enhanced protection, mission systems, troop carrying, utility, light tactical, equipment support, and battlefield ambulance roles.
The bid follows Ford's recent disclosure that military and government agencies across Europe and North America were exploring the adaptation of commercial trucks for defense operations. The collaboration with General Dynamics marks an expansion of the earlier partnership between Ford and Ricardo, which first unveiled the six-wheeled hybrid Ranger concept in 2023.