Following Supacat’s first delivery of the HMT Extenda vehicle to the Norweigan Armed Forces, Shephard spoke with Supacat’s CEO about the company’s ongoing programmes. UK Special Forces vehicle designer and manufacturer, Supacat (part of SC Group), has today announced the recent delivery of the first production HMT Extenda vehicle to the Norwegian Armed Forces. The handover took place at Supacat’s Devon facility on 30 May 2018.
Supacat signed a £23 million contract with The Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) to supply a new fleet of High Mobility Vehicles in May 2015. The award includes the provision of a comprehensive through-life support package. The first ‘pre-series’ vehicle was delivered in early 2017 followed by full fleet delivery taking place during 2018 and 2019.
The HMT Extenda is unique as it is convertible to a 4×4 or a 6×6 configuration by inserting or removing a self-contained third axle unit to meet different operational requirements. Like other HMT series platforms, such as the UK’s ‘Jackal’, the HMT Extenda can be supplied with optional mine blast and ballistic protection kits and with a variety of mission hampers, weapons, communications, ISTAR and force protection equipment to suit a wide range of operational roles. Developed in the 1990s, our High Mobility Transporter (HMT) range of vehicles builds on the success of our original All Terrain Mobility Platform (ATMP). Now being produced in 4×4, 6×6 and convertible ‘Extenda’ configurations, HMTs have developed a reputation as formidable off-road vehicles and are in use with specialist forces worldwide.
The HMT 400, HMT 600 and HMT Extenda platforms provide the base vehicle on which a range of mission or role requirements can be integrated. Since its introduction into service in 2004, the HMT base vehicle has been adapted in various configurations for many specialist roles. There are now close to 1000 in service worldwide. Designed by Supacat, the HMT product is manufactured under licence from Lockheed Martin.
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