Military vehicle venture set to drive expansion

A military vehicle manufacturer has seized a “golden opportunity” to expand UK production capacity through a new partnership.

North Defence has established North Strong, a joint venture with Midlands-based Strongs Plastic Products, to manufacture lightweight vehicle bodies for military use.

Operating from a dedicated facility in Tamworth, the partnership aims to increase production of light mobility vehicles ahead of the British Army's forthcoming Land Mobility Vehicle programme.

The announcement coincides with the launch of North Defence’s LMV MKIII, a next-generation vehicle designed to operate on multiple chassis platforms, including Toyota, Ford, INEOS Grenadier and Mercedes-Benz.

Each vehicle will incorporate a lightweight co-polymer body manufactured by North Strong, alongside upgraded suspension, run-flat wheels, auxiliary power systems and advanced thermal imaging technology.

Strongs’ managing director James Strong said: “This is a golden opportunity for us to take what we have learned over the decades, to better help and support UK and NATO forces in these troubled times.

“Strongs has always prided itself on innovation in the use of polymers and we see this as another opportunity to develop and grow our capabilities in a new market sector with the help of North Defence.”

Founded by former Royal Engineer Oliver North, North Defence has worked with Strongs, a family-run polymer engineering specialist established in 1978, since 2023.

The joint venture follows North Defence’s recent expansion in Yorkshire, where it unveiled a new 50,000sq ft headquarters and production facility in Elland, near Huddersfield, as part of plans to quadruple manufacturing capacity.

Oliver added: “North Strong now gives us the ability to scale that agility – rapidly, reliably, and here in the UK – across multiple platforms.

“It proves we’re a key industrial partner within the LMV ecosystem and it ensures we’re ready to deliver when the Army needs it most.”

North Defence also maintains a European presence through its Luxembourg operations, with the latest partnership forming part of its wider strategy to strengthen UK manufacturing capabilities and support future Ministry of Defence requirements.

It was also recently named Leeds United’s official defence partner.

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