Jaguar Land Rover has revealed three rugged Defender-based military vehicles as it competes for a major UK defense contract and seeks sales with several NATO defense organizations. The lineup includes an especially distinctive Defender pickup.
The vehicles are part of the new Defender Wolf Series II, previewed earlier this month. Each uses the D7x architecture and monocoque structure shared with road-going Defender models. The first is a Tactical Military Vehicle with a concept similar to Chevrolet’s Colorado-based Infantry Squad Vehicle.
Its headlights, hood, and front quarter panels closely resemble those of a standard Defender, while almost everything else has been redesigned. The military model has a removable windshield and no conventional doors or side windows, instead using an open-cabin layout with room for four soldiers and their equipment. The pickup version is even more distinctive.
Land Rover has produced numerous Defender pickups over the years, but the current-generation model, launched in 2020, has never been available as a truck. The latest Defender’s shape, however, translates especially well to a pickup configuration.
The front section remains largely recognizable as a Defender, while the rear cabin has been replaced by a spacious bed with steel sides and a spare-wheel carrier. The vehicle is designed to carry soldiers and military equipment over extremely demanding terrain.
“Defender Wolf Series II is exceptionally robust and versatile,” Defender managing director Patrick McGillycuddy said while unveiling the three models in the UK. “Its D7x monocoque construction enables us to adapt the platform to the wide range of roles and operational requirements demanded by military organizations.”
Land Rover says it has carried out more than 62,000 tests on the Defender’s militarized versions. The company is competing for the Ministry of Defence’s Light Mobility Vehicle tender, with the Defender potentially serving as the foundation for nine military vehicles. Those include the Tactical Mobility Vehicle (TMV) and Utility Vehicle (UV) shown here, along with a Battlefield Ambulance (BFA), General Purpose Vehicle (GPV), Command and Control Vehicle (C2V), and Mono-Tactical Mobility Vehicle (M-TMV or Mono-TMV).
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