Defender is returning to the military vehicle market with the launch of the Wolf Series II, a next-generation light mobility vehicle designed to compete for a major Ministry of Defence contract.
The new vehicle is based on Defender’s purpose-engineered D7x architecture and monocoque construction, marking the brand’s first military vehicle launch since the original Defender Wolf, which served the British Armed Forces for more than 70 years.
Defender will bid for the MoD’s Light Mobility Vehicle tender, while parent company JLR has established a new Defender Defence Division to work with defence organisations and develop vehicles for military requirements.
The Wolf Series II has undergone more than 62,000 tests as part of its engineering sign-off process, while its chassis and body architecture have been designed to withstand JLR’s Extreme Event Test procedure.
Four versions of the vehicle are due to be unveiled at the British Army DVD 2026 event at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire on September 16-17. They will include a tactical mobility vehicle, general mobility vehicle, ambulance and utility vehicle.
Patrick McGillycuddy, Defender managing director, said the vehicle represented a new generation of military mobility.
“The Defender Wolf Series II is our next generation military vehicle. British design and engineered with pioneering off road technologies and an engine built in Wolverhampton.
“The Defender Wolf Series II is intended as a light mobility solution for people and equipment transportation for the defence sector.
“We are bidding for the UK Ministry of Defence Light Mobility Vehicle tender, with a modern replacement for the world-famous Defender Wolf that served the British Armed Forces for over 70 years.
“Our Defender Wolf Series II has been tested to the extreme and is highly suited to military light mobility purposes. Defender already demonstrates its versatility in tough roles for emergency organisations around the world such as border force, mountain rescue, police and fire.”
The launch comes as governments across Europe reassess military vehicle fleets and seek greater resilience in defence supply chains.
Defender said its recent performance at the Dakar Rally, together with a demonstration at the Ministry of Defence’s independent testing ground, had provided further evidence of the vehicle’s off-road capability. The company said the Wolf Series II was the only vehicle to successfully navigate all of the obstacles during the MoD demonstration.
Defender also said its engineers retain end-to-end control over the vehicle’s development and production process, avoiding reliance on a third-party original equipment manufacturer.
The company said this approach would allow it to deliver a modern military fleet “at pace and scale”, while supporting sovereign capability through JLR’s global supply chain.
The Wolf Series II will add to Defender’s existing Expert portfolio, which is already used by emergency organisations around the world, including border forces, police, fire and military services.
For JLR, the MoD competition offers an opportunity to establish a new foothold in the defence market while drawing on a vehicle platform already designed for demanding off-road conditions.
The company’s emphasis on domestic engineering and an engine built in Wolverhampton also underlines the strategic importance it places on maintaining UK-based capability as defence procurement increasingly focuses on resilient supply chains and sovereign industrial capacity.
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