Jankel, a British world-leader in the design, integration, manufacture, and support of high-specification defence systems, has signed a teaming agreement with the US defence company Oshkosh Defense to harness the joint capabilities and strengths of both companies for the UK defence market. The collaboration has been specifically formed to lead a UK based team of subject matter experts that delivers the Oshkosh JLTV vehicle to meet crucial protected mobility requirements of the British Armed Forces. Oshkosh and Jankel are ideally suited to work together – bringing the global market presence, extensive portfolio of past performance, and cutting-edge technology of Oshkosh together with the flexibility, pedigree, and UK customer focus of Jankel.
John Lazar, Oshkosh Defense Vice President & General Manager, International Programs said: “We have been providing vehicles and support to the UK MOD for over 20 years. Our collaboration with Jankel leverages the successful innovation of UK industry to provide the UK Armed Forces the enduring capabilities required for the modern battlefield.”
Andrew Jankel, Chairman at Jankel said: “Jankel has been providing protected vehicles to the British Forces for many years and we are extremely excited to be teaming with Oshkosh Defense, working together to provide innovative solutions to meet the UK’s defence equipment challenges. This partnership allows us to deliver an enduring multi-year programme with an agile UK team. Looking ahead, this partnership supports our long-term strategy to develop a UK based centre of excellence that integrates the best of British technology and innovation into world-leading vehicle platforms.”
This agreement sees the initiation of a dynamic team of Britain’s leading experts in vehicle design, integration, support, and project delivery with significant experience in repeatedly solving UK specific defence vehicle related challenges. The teaming agreement not only ensures that the UK Armed Forces get access to the world leading Oshkosh Defense JLTV to meet future Protected Mobility requirements, but it also unleashes the potential of UK defence industry and delivers on the recently launched Land Industrial Strategy (LIS). By procuring the JLTV through this newly formed team, the UK MoD maintains the economies of scale offered by the sizeable US JLTV programme whilst also leveraging local manufacture, design, integration, on-shore SME supply chain, and through life support capabilities.
The Jankel group of companies has been continually trading since its incorporation by founder Robert Jankel in 1955. In its early years, Jankel provided specialist design and manufacturing services to improve the performance of rally and racing cars. By 1970 Jankel had established Panther Westwinds and was manufacturing production sport cars and coach-built touring limousines for VIP customers. Jankel then diversified into coachwork for the likes of Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Mercedes-Benz, specialising in armoured, Head of State vehicles. The current portfolio of products and services is wholly defence and security focused and covers the design, development, prototyping and production of armoured vehicles, light tactical vehicles, counter terrorism vehicles and equipment, and customised occupant survivability solutions for military, security, government, aid agencies and NGOs.
