Ineos has joined forces with SMT Defence and NMS UK to launch Team Grenadier, a new defence-focused consortium targeting the UK Ministry of Defence’s Light Mobility Vehicle programme.
The partnership will offer a family of military vehicles based on the Ineos Grenadier platform, combining the vehicle manufacturer’s off-road expertise with specialist military vehicle engineering, integration and support capabilities.
Announced at a time when the UK defence sector is placing increasing emphasis on domestic industrial capability and supply chain resilience, Team Grenadier positions itself as a British-led solution capable of meeting the Ministry of Defence’s future light mobility requirements.
The Ineos Grenadier, with its the ladder-frame chassis, has already established itself in emergency services, utility and specialist fleet applications around the world but consortium believes it can provide a strong foundation for military applications.
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Under the arrangement, SMT Defence will be responsible for specialist military vehicle design and systems integration. The company brings experience in developing mission-specific vehicles for military and special operations customers, including modular platform architectures and high-payload configurations.
NMS UK will provide manufacturing, vehicle integration and aftercare support. NMS has extensive experience in military vehicle production and protected platform programmes.
According to Team Grenadier, the proposed Grenadier Multi-Role Light Vehicle (MRLV) is one of nine potential configurations being developed for the LMV programme. The modular approach would allow the platform to be adapted for a range of military applications while retaining common components and support infrastructure.
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Mike Whittington, chief commercial officer at Ineos Automotive, said the collaboration’s UK roots were a major advantage.
“A defining advantage of the industrial collaboration is its British ownership, onshore assembly and local supply chain,” he said.
“It brings strategic benefits in operational independence and resilience with security and regulatory alignment – delivering on the MoD’s core objectives.
“Grenadier’s unrivalled capability and inherent strength provide an obvious starting point for mission-critical transport.”
The defence initiative represents the latest step in Ineos Automotive’s efforts to expand the Grenadier’s presence in specialist fleet sectors. Recent deployments have included emergency service and public sector fleets across Europe.
