FORD

The Ford Ranger Super Duty 6x6 is a contender for the British Army's new vehicle fleet

Just a few months ago, Ford revealed that military and government agencies across Europe and North America were considering adapting commercial pickup trucks for defense operations. One such example is the mid-size Ford Ranger, which has been proposed for the British Ministry of Defence's Light Multi-Role Vehicle (LMV) program.

A militarized version of the Ford Ranger—featuring six wheels and a hybrid powertrain—was previously developed through a collaboration between the engineering firm Ricardo and Ford. Now, a new company has joined the effort: the British subsidiary of General Dynamics Land Systems. This division of the U.S. aerospace and defense giant General Dynamics Corporation specializes in land combat and tactical vehicles.

The company pledged that the three partners would deliver a "proven, scalable, and cost-effective solution," adding that their modified vehicle "meets the British Army's requirements while creating significant export opportunities and maximizing value for British taxpayers."

The British Ministry of Defence aims to acquire approximately 2,500 Light Multi-Role Vehicles to replace its aging fleet of Land Rover Defenders and Steyr-Puch Pinzgauers by 2030, as part of a £4.8 billion initiative. According to *Defense Blog*, citing the specialist publication *Army Technology*, vehicle evaluation trials are scheduled to take place between October 2026 and January 2027. The modified Ford Ranger is one of the contenders, alongside the Land Rover Defender Wolf Series II and other proposals from General Motors and Ineos.

Photos released by General Dynamics on social media, as well as by Ford on its "From The Road" blog, show two Ford Ranger units with varying levels of modification. The first pickup appears to be based on the Wildtrak trim level and features a front bumper brush guard, a sports bar behind the cab, and a custom military-style wrap.

The second version is more interesting as it features six wheels. Although the prototype's bodywork resembles that of the entry-level XLT trim, the chassis is derived from the more capable Ford Ranger Super Duty developed in Australia.

Under the hood lies a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine producing 209 hp and 600 Nm of torque, paired with a hybrid system. Ricardo previously released details regarding an electric motor mounted on the rear axle, which contributes 286 hp in both 6x6 and 6x4 configurations.

The pickup is equipped with steel underbody protection, a robust transfer case, front and rear differential locks, and a reinforced suspension system; this setup provides nearly 300 mm of ground clearance and allows it to ford water up to 850 mm deep.

It also boasts a towing capacity of 4,500 kg, a payload capacity of 1,982 kg, and a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 8,000 kg. Finally, the interior features third-party tactical mission software integrated into the standard 12-inch infotainment display. The automaker confirmed that the turbodiesel engine is manufactured in London and the hybrid system in Halewood. Ford's facilities in Dunton house the commercial vehicle development, technical development, and conversion engineering departments, while Daventry serves as the central logistics hub for parts logistics and distribution.

 

by Autonews