INEOS Grenadier EPV 2026: armor, specifications and UK Light Mobility Vehicle bid
INEOS has unveiled the armored Grenadier EPV for the UK Light Mobility Vehicle program. It uses a purpose-built steel cabin rated to STANAG 4569 Level II.
INEOS has taken the Grenadier into a new stage of the contest for a British military contract: Team Grenadier has unveiled the armored Enhanced Protection Vehicle, or EPV. Instead of bolt-on armor panels, the vehicle gets a purpose-designed steel cabin offering protection up to STANAG 4569 Level II. This makes it a dedicated military derivative based on the civilian SUV rather than simply a package of add-on equipment.
The project is tied to the Light Mobility Vehicle program, intended to provide the British armed forces with replacements for ageing Land Rover and Pinzgauer vehicles. On its Team Grenadier page, INEOS now puts the estimated value of the tender at around £2 billion. Earlier government documents cited a preliminary value of £750 million excluding VAT, so the gap between the two estimates is substantial.
The EPV is designed primarily for protected personnel transport rather than as a full front-line combat vehicle. Its armored capsule is intended to withstand ballistic and blast threats corresponding to STANAG 4569 Level II. Exact figures for weight, payload after armoring and the EPV powertrain have not yet been disclosed publicly.
The underlying Grenadier architecture is retained, including its ladder frame, solid axles and permanent four-wheel drive. The standard Grenadier Fieldmaster also shows how far the civilian platform can be pushed toward specialist use: its petrol BMW B58 produces 286 hp, works with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and is rated to wade through 800 mm of water.
Production would be split between two countries. INEOS would continue building the base vehicles at Hambach in France, while specialist bodies, military electrical equipment, seats, winches and suspension modifications would be installed by partners in the UK. Team Grenadier plans to use a single platform for nine variants, including a general-purpose vehicle, personnel carrier, protected EPV and ambulance version.
The consortium has also expanded: Hobson Industries and TVS Supply Chain Solutions have joined INEOS Automotive, NMS UK and SMT Defence. Their role is less about developing yet another body style and more about servicing, spare-parts supply and keeping the fleet operational throughout its service life. INEOS has publicly confirmed the updated Team Grenadier lineup.
The competition carries some symbolism. Just days ago, the new Defender Wolf was revealed for the same program and is also bidding to replace the Army’s Land Rovers. The UK Ministry of Defence has formally announced the start of the current Land Rover fleet’s retirement, while the first vehicles of the next generation are planned to reach the armed forces by 2030.
The next important milestone will not be another show appearance but testing. According to Janes, trials of LMV candidates may begin no earlier than 19 October 2026. That is where it should become clear whether the EPV’s extra protection can meet requirements for weight, payload, mobility and maintainability — factors that matter more to a military utility vehicle than visual similarity to the old Defender.