Lockheed Martin’s joint light tactical vehicle (JLTV) has successfully completed the US government’s production readiness review (PRR) at the company’s ground vehicle assembly facility in Camden, Arkansas, US.
Representing one of the government’s critical steps for a contractor to demonstrate production readiness, the PRR involved a detailed evaluation of JLTV production planning and readiness in terms of schedule, performance, cost and other criteria.
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During the PRR, the Lockheed-led team assembled a JLTV on its production line to further demonstrate production readiness.
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control ground vehicles vice-president Scott Greene said: "Our Camden facility is ready for production. To fully prove that point, we assembled a JLTV on our Camden production line during the PRR event, proving conclusively that the line and facility are ready for vehicle assembly right now."
"We wanted to leave no doubt to our army and marine customers that we’re ready to build JLTVs in Camden," Greene added.
The team had successfully completed a government manufacturing readiness assessment at the site in late 2013.
In addition, Lockheed is scheduled to perform JLTV final assembly at the Camden facility with support from BAE Systems.
Aimed at replacing several of the existing US Army and Marine Corps’ high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWVs), the Lockheed team’s JLTV is designed to offer highly improved survivability and capability.
In addition, the JLTV is expected to offer the crew protection of mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles, while providing critical mobility, reliability and transportability to soldiers and marines.
The patented Meritor Pro-Tec, which is an independent air-ride suspension incorporated within the JLTV, boosts agility and off-road mobility, while the Cummins turbo diesel and Allison transmission offers abundant power with enhanced fuel efficiency.
Additional features include an on-board and exportable power-generation with substantial margin for future growth, as well as state-of-the-art connectivity with other platforms.
Lockheed received a $65m JLTV engineering manufacturing and development (EMD) contract, along with AM General and Oshkosh Defence, in August 2012.
Image: Lockheed’s JLTV manufacturing facility at Camden, Arkansas, US. Photo: © 2014 Lockheed Martin Corporation.
