Army Technology

Daily Newsletter

07 November 2023

Daily Newsletter

Oshkosh Defense awarded $208m contract to deliver JLTVs

US Defence contractor Oshkosh Defense has expanded military vehicle production for the US Armed Forces.

Oshkosh Defense, a defence contractor based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has secured a contract modification worth $208m to produce Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs).

This development underscores the company's role in providing military vehicles for the US Armed Forces.

The $208m modification to the contract is designated for producing Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, a component of modern military operations.

The work is scheduled to be carried out in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of September 25, 2025.

Funding for this project includes fiscal 2023 Air Force European Deterrence Initiative funds, fiscal 2023 and 2024 procurement from the Air Force, fiscal 2023 and 2024 procurement from the Marine Corps, and fiscal 2024 other procurement from the Army. These funds, totalling $208m, were allocated at the time of the contract award.

The US Army Corps of Engineers, based in Detroit, Michigan, oversees the contracting activities.

Oshkosh Defense has received contracts to provide the US Army with additional Joint Light Tactical Vehicles. One of the most recent contracts received had an estimated value of $84.9m. This announcement followed another $543m contract for JLTVs and JLTV-Trailers awarded by the US Army.

Lithuania is also set to enhance its military capabilities by procuring 300 additional Joint Light Tactical Vehicles from Oshkosh Defense. This new contract complements the initial 200 JLTVs signed between Lithuania and the US Department of Defense in 2019.

The JLTVs, designed for high crew safety and efficiency in reconnaissance and support operations, will be allocated to the Lithuanian Armed Forces' Iron Wolf and Griffin brigades and the national Rapid Response Force, strengthening the nation's defence capabilities and fostering interoperability with the US military.

In May last year, Lockheed Martin successfully integrated the Spike Non-Line-of-Sight missile system onto Oshkosh's Joint Light Tactical Vehicle on behalf of the US Special Operations Command. The Spike NLOS is an electro-optical/infrared missile system with a range of up to 32km and is designed for precision strikes.

Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) are beginning to see combat deployment

The recent introduction of hypersonic missiles into the global threat matrix has led some observers to consider the potential of DEW as an effective countermeasure to this emerging technology. Consequently, the DEW market presents significant potential for growth due to rising global demand and extensive opportunities for technological innovation, though the exorbitant cost of most DEW systems poses its own challenges, most notably higher financial risk during R&D as well as a relatively limited pool of viable customers.