Oshkosh’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Reaches 20,000th Production Milestone

More JVTL units are coming to American forces as Oshkosh defense contractor reaches its 20,000th production milestone!

Earlier this month, Oshkosh Defense announced it had achieved the 20,000th production of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), the armored vehicle replacement of the revered High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, or Humvee.

The American-based contractor highlighted in its press release that since winning the bid, it has always been its top priority to produce the new generation of competent tactical vehicles for the armed forces on time and within budget.

Oshkosh Defense President Tim Bleck noted that despite the global pandemic in 2020, which severely hampered the world’s supply chain, the production rate of the JLTV remained unwavering. In fact, during that challenging year, the defense firm successfully reached a significant milestone, producing its 10,000th JLTV.

The Humvee has long served in the armed forces since its introduction in the late 1970s. However, concerns regarding the survivability of this iconic tactical vehicle have arisen due to the persistent threat of bomb attacks from enemy insurgents that keeps on penetrating despite efforts to reinforce extra armor. Again and again, upgrades proved insufficient, and only increased weight resulted in reduced speed and agility, making it more sluggish.

The Humvee has been a staple in the armed forces since its introduction in the late 1970s. However, concerns have emerged regarding the vehicle’s survivability due to the ongoing threat of bomb attacks from enemy insurgents in the 2000s. Despite numerous attempts to reinforce the Humvee with extra armor, these upgrades have proven inadequate. Instead, the additional weight has led to decreased speed and agility, rendering the vehicle more and more sluggish in its operations. Recognizing the vulnerabilities of the renowned Humvee fleet, the US forces initiated the JLTV program in the mid-2000s to address its shortcomings.

Unlike its predecessor, the JLTV was purposely designed from the ground up with a clear objective in mind: to provide enhanced protection to its occupants against a wide range of attacks. One of the key features that set the JLTV apart is its impenetrable ballistic armor, purposefully engineered to withstand even the most formidable threats. This strategic approach ensures that the JLTV offers unparalleled defense capabilities, marking a significant advancement in vehicle design and safeguarding the lives of those who operate it. The program extensively incorporated lessons learned from the previous Future Tactical Truck Systems program, as well as insights gained from the weak points of the Humvee and related endeavors. As a result, a significant portion of the program’s features was derived from this valuable knowledge, ensuring that the new tactical vehicle addressed and improved upon the limitations observed in its predecessors.

Initially geared to replace the Humvee fleet of the US Army, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command, the JLTV program kickstarted a battle bid between Oshkosh Defense, Lockheed Martin, and AM General with a contract worth $6.7 billion. Eventually, Oshkosh won the Army’s initial production contract in 2015, expected to deliver and sustain nearly 17,000 vehicles.

However, due to intense competition, the production of the JLTV did not immediately commence. Lockheed Martin, one of the contenders, filed protests against the Army’s decision to award the contract a year after its announcement, resulting in delays in the targeted operational capability.

By 2019, the newest tactical vehicle reached a significant milestone by achieving its initial operational capability and full-rate production. This accomplishment marked a crucial advancement as it received the designation of deployment-ready for armed forces missions.

At the onset of full-rate production, the Marine Corps procured around 5,500 units of the JLTV and a reorder from the Army of 1,600 more late last year prior to the recompete contract commenced.

At present, Oshkosh awaits the decision of the Army in its protest to reconsider the awarding of the latest $8.7 billion contract plus $4.7 billion support addition, which AM General won in February. Once pushed through, the new contractor of the tactical vehicle will then have to deliver around 20,000 JLTVs.

Reports indicate that the new generation light tactical vehicle offers operators a survivable, mobile, and adaptable platform that surpasses the capabilities of the Humvee. One of its standout features is a scalable armor system designed to safeguard the crew against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs)—identified as the primary threats to the Humvees. Other notable additions to the new generation light tactical vehicle include a blast-resistant underbody, self-sealing fuel tanks, and an automatic fire suppression system.

Moreover, reports indicate that the new generation light tactical vehicle surpasses its predecessor in speed and agility, enabling it to traverse steeper hills and navigate rough terrains with exceptional capability. These enhancements significantly improve the light tactical vehicle’s overall performance and operational capabilities, ensuring optimal maneuverability and resilience in various challenging environments.

Shortly after losing the latest bid, Oshkosh showcased the latest JLTV version at the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) earlier this year in the United Arab Emirates.

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