Army awards AM General contract for new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle

JLTV
Photo credit Courtesy of Army.mil

The DOD replacement for the HMMWV (High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicle) was initially thought to come from Oshkosh with their L-ATV being awarded the first production contract in 2015, but now the military has the follow on production awarded to the manufacturer of the original HMMVW, AM General.

The five-year contract includes five one-year follow-up optional ordering periods for up to 20,682 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) and 9,883 trailers. The contract is worth 8.66 billion dollars.

Podcast Episode
Eye on Veterans
Balloon Bust! The point nobody is talking about + New book “From Lawyer to Warrior” by USMC vet Chris Pavlak
Listen Now
Now Playing
Now Playing

The tried and true HMMWV came into service nearly forty years ago and was due for replacement, with numerous manufacturers bidding on the contract going back to when the entire selection process began in 2006.

"The JLTV A2 design is the first tactical wheeled vehicle with baseline architecture utilizing lithium-ion batteries, which is a key enabler for anti-idle capability," an Army press release describes. The battery power is intended to be more sustainable for Army logistics as well as be more environmentally friendly.

The Marine Corps participated in the process and will also acquire several thousand JLTVs, which are expected to ultimately be a family of military vehicles with commonality amongst replacement parts for more efficient repair and logistics.

"We look forward to partnering with AM General to build upon this proven platform and ensure our warfighters have the latest in vehicle technology," said Marine Corps Brig. Gen. David Walsh.

Want to get more connected to the stories and resources Connecting Vets has to offer? Click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Reach Jack Murphy: jack@connectingvets.com or @JackMurphyRGR.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Courtesy of Army.mil