The U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) announced yesterday that Oshkosh Defense, LLC, has been awarded a $6.7 billion firm-fixed-price production contract for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), according to an Oshkosh press release.
The contract, which includes both Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) and Full Rate Production (FRP) as well as sustainment services, covers almost 17,000 JLTV vehicles for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps if all options are exercised. The production contract includes a base contract award and eight option years covering three years of LRIP and five years of FRP. Oshkosh expects to begin delivering vehicles based on its winning L-ATV design some ten months from contract award. The JLTV is intended to replace a large part of the HMMWV fleet, but will have superior protection and mobility.
The Oshkosh Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle (L-ATV) was one of three contenders to move into the Engineering and Manufacturing Development stage of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program. Oshkosh Defense photo
“Following a rigorous, disciplined JLTV competition, the U.S. Army and Marine Corps are giving our nation’s warfighters the world’s most capable light vehicle – the Oshkosh JLTV,” said Charles L. Szews, Oshkosh Corporation chief executive officer. “Oshkosh is honored to be selected for the JLTV production contract, which builds upon our 90-year history of producing tactical wheeled vehicles for U.S. military operations at home and abroad. We are fully prepared to build a fleet of exceptional JLTVs to serve our troops in future missions.”
“Our JLTV has been extensively tested and is proven to provide the ballistic protection of a light tank, the underbody protection of an MRAP-class vehicle, and the off-road mobility of a Baja racer.”
“Because of the JLTV program, our soldiers and Marines are getting a level of technical performance that no other vehicle can match,” said U.S. Army Major General (Retired) John M. Urias, executive vice president of Oshkosh Corporation and president of Oshkosh Defense. “Our JLTV has been extensively tested and is proven to provide the ballistic protection of a light tank, the underbody protection of an MRAP-class vehicle, and the off-road mobility of a Baja racer. The Oshkosh JLTV allows troops to travel over rugged terrain at speeds 70 percent faster than today’s gold standard, which is our Oshkosh M-ATV. Looking to future battlefields, we know that our troops will face a myriad of threats. Soldiers and Marines can be assured that the highly capable Oshkosh JLTV will perform the mission.”
After losing out in the technology development phase of the JLTV competition, Oshkosh rejoined the competition with its L-ATV entrant, ultimately winning the contract. Photo courtesy of Oshkosh Defense
The JLTV program is actually a family of vehicles based on a two-seat and a four seat-variant, and also includes a companion trailer (JLTV-T). The two-seat variant has one base vehicle platform, the Utility (JLTV-UTL). The four-seat variant has two base vehicle platforms, the General Purpose (JLTV-GP) and the Close Combat Weapons Carrier (JLTV-CCWC), according to Oshkosh.
The Oshkosh JLTV features the company’s TAK-4i™ independent suspension system, and two levels of armor. The A-kit is standard, with little armor but provision for adding the modular add-on B-kit, which increases crew protection levels. The vehicles are to be delivered unarmed, but can carry the full range of armament carried by MRAPs and HMMWVs today, including machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, and anti-tank guided missiles. Oshkosh leveraged extensive experience producing and sustaining more than 150,000 heavy, medium and protected MRAP vehicles for the U.S. and its allies in designing and building the company’s L-ATV, introduced in 2011, and chosen as the winner of the JLTV competition against entries from Lockheed Martin and AM General. Up to six teams were competing for the contract at one time. Both Oshkosh L-ATV variants, barring protests from the losing competitors, will now move forward to become the de facto JLTV platforms.
“Developing our Oshkosh JLTV solution has been an incredible journey,” said Szews. “For the past decade, our entire team has been focused on putting our troops behind the wheel of the world’s most capable light vehicle. It’s our relationship with our troops and our deep appreciation for their service that inspires our best work every day. I offer my sincere thanks to our employees and suppliers for their years of dedication to reach this historic day.”