Designed by Land Rover engineers specifically to meet the needs of the British Army and the Royal Marines, the Lightweight Series was meant to replace the option that the Army had i.e. Series 2A 88" which was heavier for airborne transportation.

The idea was to have an SUV that could be easily carried by a heavy-duty Westland Sussex chopper as well as move them in transport planes. To achieve this, Land Rover engineers reduced the vehicle length by 4 inches, body panels were made more lighter as well as detachable, etc. 

With a 2.25 litre engine under the bonnet, the first vehicle of the Lightweight Series IIA (2A) rolled out in 1968. The model became such a super-hit that it was exported to over twenty countries.