General Dynamics UK awarded £3.5bn armoured vehicle contract

The platforms, which consist of six variants, will be delivered to the army between 2017 and 2024 alongside initial in-service support and training.   

This contract safeguards or creates up to 1,300 jobs across the programme’s UK supply chain, with 300 of these at General Dynamics UK’s Oakdale site where the platform was designed. 

SCOUT SV has been designed to provide protection and survivability, reliability and mobility and all-weather intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and recognition (ISTAR) capabilities. 

According to General Dynamics UK, its range of variants will allow the British Army to conduct sustained, expeditionary, full-spectrum and network-enabled operations with a reduced logistics footprint. SCOUT SV can operate in combined-arms and multinational situations across a wide-range of future operating environments.

In a statement, PM David Cameron said: ‘These new vehicles are testament to the world class engineering skills in South Wales and across the UK, helping to create the army’s first fully digitalised armoured vehicles.

‘Not only will they be crucial in helping to keep Britain safe, they will also underpin nearly 1,300 jobs across the UK and showcase the strength of the UK’s highly skilled defence sector.’

Kevin Connell, vice president General Dynamics UK – Land Systems, said: ‘General Dynamics UK and our partners have worked hard over the last four years to develop a world-leading vehicle, and we will maintain that same work ethic to deliver 589 SCOUT SV platforms to the British Army on-time and on-budget.’