The Defender’s Spiritual Successor Just Made Its Most Tactical Move Yet

Following Land Rover’s discontinuation of the Defender classic back in 2016, Ineos has scrambled to fill the void with the Grenadier. And not just at the consumer level.

From open-topped safari rigs and Red Cross transport to fire and rescue and Hertz rentals, Ineos is increasingly finding opportunities for its spiritual Defender successor in fleet applications.

Ineos

Now, however, the Grenadier is targeting what is easily its most important job yet. It’s a role that would truly allow the SUV to take over where its Land Rover inspiration left off.

A muli-role military Grenadier

That would be the new Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) for deployment by the UK Ministry of Defense (MoD). Just a few months ago, the government agency announced that it would soon retire all of its active Land Rovers from military service. 

Ineos

As of last year, more than 5,000 Defenders were still in operation. When they’re all finally phased out in 2030, the MoD will launch the successor sourced through its ongoing replacement program.

Accordingly, Ineos has joined forces with SMT Defence and NMS UK to put a tactical spin on the Grenadier called the Multi-Role Light Vehicle (MRLV). It’s one of several options making a bid for the contract, with competition coming from JLR, Toyota and Ford, among others.

In keeping with the scope of the position’s job requirements, the MRLV is designed to be built up for a variety of needs. As such, the pictured Grenadier sports a crew and a flatbed, but Ineos can do single cabs and different body styles, too.

Ineos

While the automaker’s defense partners each promise their fair share of military vehicle expertise, ultimately, the buck stops with the Grenadier platform. Ineos believes that, between its ladder-frame chassis, heavy-duty beam axles and permanent four-wheel drive, the rugged SUV has what it takes to handle service work.

Following in the Defender’s tracks

Beyond the financial prospects of outfitting the UK MoD with a grip of new Grenadier MRLVs, Ineos is bound to have an interest in the contract because of its cultural implications.

Ineos

After all, much like the Jeep Wrangler here in the United States, the Land Rover Defender has become the British icon that it is today because of its military background.

It’s an extensive one at that. Though the first Series I hit the market in 1948 as a vehicle for farming and light industrial use, it donned its fatigues less than a year later. As a result, Land Rovers have now served for more than 70 years straight.

That kind of perseverance is a testament to the 4×4’s iconic status and its enduring appeal. Even though the Defender has already long been supplemented by much more modern and specialized alternatives, it’s nevertheless remained relevant to the UK’s military operations.

Ineos

Should the Grenadier get the job, then, Ineos would be able to claim its own service to its country. Being an outfit that leans on German powertrains and French production facilities to curate a vision of modern British utility, that’s just the kind of patriotism it needs.

Moreover, it’d be another notch in the Grenadier’s belt of roles its filled in the wake of the classic, cementing it as even more of the spiritual Defender successor it’s intended to be.

Ineos

Ineos Grenadier MRLV

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