Designed for Specific Capability Gap
Jankel has achieved final design approval (FDR) for a twin-cab pickup variant of its Hot Formed Armoured Toyota LC200, the company revealed on 2 February.
Designed for an undisclosed customer, the vehicle fills a specific capability gap in the specialist protected vehicle market and has the potential to become an after-market modification for in-service LC200s. The existing Australian Expedition Vehicles (AEV) pickup design has been integrated with Jankel’s armoured LC200 platform, resulting in a 650mm-longer wheelbase that maintains protection levels. Combined with a heavy-duty rear axle, this delivers an increase in weight to 5,800kg and payload up to 1,500, with a usable 1.9×1.7m load bed space.
Additional tactical capability enhancements can be incorporated, such as: run-flats; improved brakes; tuned suspension; fire suppression system; door deadbolts; escape hatch; gun ports; weapons mounts; tactical lighting and a PA/siren. The vehicle can be delivered with a canopy or a hard-top and includes folding/removable sides and integrated modular storage bins. Following FDR, Jankel will be undertaking validation tests to include elements of PAS 301. It expects the new vehicle to be in production by July 2021.
“We’ve developed this new pickup variant of our Hot Formed Armoured LC200 as a result of receiving an order from an existing customer. As a first of its kind, I can immediately see other users of armoured fleets becoming interested in similar conversions that add capability and flexibility, not available on the LC200 base platform […] Once again, our strategy to partner with OEMs and specialist defence suppliers to deliver bespoke capability has resulted in the exact product our customer needs, driving mission success,” commented Jankel Group CEO, Andrew Jankel.