According to various media, the United Kingdom is drawing up plans to send Mastiff MRAP and Jackal special forces vehicles to Ukraine. The vehicles would be stripped of their British Army sensitive equipment (armament and radios) and British troops would be sent to a country neighboring Ukraine to carry out training, The Times reported, citing a Defence source..
Mastiff is a heavily armored, 6×6 patrol vehicle that carries eight troops, plus two: commander and driver. It is currently on its third variation. It is suitable for road patrols and convoys and is the newest in a range of protected patrol vehicles being used for operations in the British Army. Mastiff can reach 90 km/h, is armed with the latest weapon systems, including a 7.62mm general-purpose machine gun, a 12.7mm heavy machine gun, or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. The vehicle is equipped with Bowman radios and electronic countermeasures and is fitted with additional armor (or “cage armor”) beyond the standard level.
A total of over 700 Mastiff and Ridgback vehicles have been armored and integrated by NP Aerospace over the last 15 years for use in various operational theatres involving British forces.
The Jackal, or MWMIK which stands for Mobility Weapon-Mounted Installation Kit, is a family of vehicles designed and developed by Supacat Ltd at their factory in Honiton, Devon (UK) for use by the British Army and Royal Air Force Regiment. Supacat re-branded to SC Group in September 2015, the Supacat brand was retained for the group’s core defense business. The primary role of the vehicle in the British Army is deep battlespace reconnaissance, rapid assault and fire support – roles where mobility, endurance and maneuverability are important – and it has also been used for convoy protection.