MWMIK JACKAL

The Mobility Weapon-Mounted Installation Kit (MWMIK), or 'Jackal', is an open armoured vehicle used by The Royal Marines and Parachute Regiment, as well as other UK forces in Afghanistan. The Jackal can be used as a reconnaissance / long range patrol vehicle as well as a fire support platform. It has been of particular use to light recce units such as 3 Commando Brigade's Brigade Patrol Troop and 16 Air Assault's Pathfinder Platoon, largely replacing the lighter, less capable Land Rover WMIK. With thicker tires and better ground clearance, the Jackal offer greatly improved off-road handling. Side armour provides better protection from small arms fire than the WMIK. It is also claimed that the Supacat offers greater protection from IEDs. Whilst this may be true with regards to mines exploded underneath the vehicle, the Supacat MWMIK's occupants are still vulnerable to blast damage from roadside bombs.

The Jackal has a crew of 3. A typical loadout for a Jackal comprises of a GPMG, HMG .50 cal machine gun, or HK GMG 40mm grenade launcher as its main weapon, complemented by a GPMG mounted at the vehicle commander's station.

MWMIK Jackal pictured at a Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) event, 2008. Note the smoke grenade launchers fitted to the vehicle.

UKSF units such as the SAS, SBS and SFSG use the Supacat HTM 400, an almost identical vehicle to the Jackal, configured for Special Forces operations.

Supacat HMT400 / JACKAL Specifications

Jackal 2

In 2009, the MoD announced that an upgraded MWMIK, the 'Jackal 2' was to be introduced into service. At least 110 Jackal 2s have reportedly been ordered. Changes include:

• main gun moved forward to allow forward firing without putting the front occupants at risk
• crew increased from 3 to 4
• additional armour
• strengthened chassis
• vehicle can move with doors open
• rear 'jockey seat' replaced with 2 blast-protected seats

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