The US Army has formally given approval to Oshkosh Defense to commence the full-rate production (FRP) of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) programme.
Approval was granted by US Army Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Assistant Secretary Dr Bruce Jette.
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JLTVs are designed to replace a sizeable number of the army’s high-mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicles, known as Humvees.
Initially, the FRP was slated to be approved in December, Defense News reported. The delay in approval was due to several changes to the Humvee replacement.
In December, the army gave the go-ahead to begin fielding the JLTV platform with the US Army’s 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia.
The division received more than 300 vehicles and became the army’s first unit equipped with new platforms in April. JLTVs have also been fielded to four army training sites.
Bruce Jette’s principal deputy Jeffrey White said: “Thanks to tremendous teamwork across two services on requirements, resources, programme management, testing, and other areas, this is a great modernisation success story.
“JLTV shows how teams focused on stable requirements, mature technologies and the right incentives can deliver meaningful capability advancements in a cost-conscious way.”
The JLTV family of vehicles is purpose-built to serve modern battlefield networks. The platform is designed to give commanders an improved protected mobility solution.
It is available in two variants and four mission package configurations.
These configurations include general purpose, close combat weapons carrier, heavy guns carrier, and a utility vehicle.
JLTV Joint Program Office project manager Michael Sprang stated that feedback from the soldiers of the 1st ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division helped in proceeding with the FRP decision.
The US Navy and US Air Force are also planning to procure the JLTVs.
