Reflecting a significant program expansion that occurred in December 2011, the current Program Management Office (PMO) Light Tactical Vehicles (LTV) portfolio spans Marine Corps involvement in the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) as well as myriad Marine Corps High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs), the Internally Transportable Vehicle (ITV), associated trailers, and other related equipment. This program is under the leadership of Program Executive Office (PEO) Land Systems’ Program Manager (PM) for Light Tactical Vehicles Lt. Col. Mike Burks.
As the designated lead service on the joint service JLTV program, the U.S. Army announced the three JLTV engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) awards on Aug. 22, 2012. The awards were made to AM General LLC, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and Oshkosh Corporation.
“The source selection team worked diligently through the large volume of proposals submitted to ensure that the partners chosen for the EMD phase gave the services the best opportunity possible to take the next step in filling the affordable critical capability gaps within the light tactical vehicle fleet.”
“We were very pleased with the robust industry response to the JLTV RFP [Request For Proposals],” said U.S. Army Program Executive Officer for Combat Support and Combat Service Support Kevin Fahey. “The source selection team worked diligently through the large volume of proposals submitted to ensure that the partners chosen for the EMD phase gave the services the best opportunity possible to take the next step in filling the affordable critical capability gaps within the light tactical vehicle fleet.”
“The EMD contract awards reinforce the successful joint effort between the services on JLTV,” added Marine Corps PEO for Land Systems William Taylor. “The strong Army-Marine Corps partnership recognizes that synergy is imperative in this austere budgetary environment, and is committed to the success of JLTV in filling the affordable critical capability gap that exists in both services’ light tactical vehicle fleets.”
The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Joint Program Office (JPO) (Army and Marine Corps) received 66 of the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase prototype vehicles of the three JLTV contenders produced by AM General, Lockheed Martin (pictured), and Oshkosh in late August 2013. They are currently undergoing ballistic; reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM); and performance testing. Lockheed Martin photo
In August 2013, each company delivered 22 full-up prototypes and provided contractor support to begin a comprehensive 14-month government test program, including blast testing, automotive testing, and user evaluation.
Asked about how the eventual fielding of JLTV will affect the planned sustainment of the Marine Corps’ HMMWV fleet, Burks pointed to several “irons in the fire” surrounding the fleet evolution.