Marines Keep JLTV After Army Cancels Orders DEFENSE NEWS TODAY

Even though the Army stopped buying JLTVs, the Marines plan to keep using the vehicle. In 2015, both forces selected Oshkosh Defense to construct the JLTV, Congressional Research Services reported Monday. AM General was awarded a follow-on contract in 2023 to carry on producing the vehicle.

Speaking on May 14, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith reaffirmed his full commitment to the JLTV program. He informed lawmakers that the JLTV continues to serve as the backbone of the Corps’ ground vehicle fleet. However, he admitted the Army’s exit could raise costs due to smaller orders. Still, he said it’s too early to judge the full impact of the Army’s decision.

The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), known and marketed under Oshkosh development as the L-ATV is a light utility/combat multi-role vehicle. — The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), known and marketed under Oshkosh development as the L-ATV, is a light utility/combat multi-role vehicle.

The Marine Corps and Army designed the JLTV to replace their primarily Humvee-based light tactical vehicle fleets. The initial low-rate production contract awarded to Oshkosh Defense was worth $6.7 billion for the first 16,901 vehicles, according to the CRS report.

AM General secured a follow-on contract worth $8 billion to construct an additional 30,000 JLTVs and 10,000 trailers for the vehicles.

Unit Cost

Smith anticipates that the unit cost will rise as a result of the Army decision, and the Corps is “still assessing the full impact of the Army’s abrupt exit from the joint program.” “That’s going to negatively impact the Marine Corps’ ability to fulfill its ground tactical vehicle mobility strategy, which has me concerned,” Mr. Smith said.

The Marine Corps uses JLTV for its ROGUE-Fires and Marine Air Defense Integration System, or MADIS. The ROGUE-Fires system, a remotely operated JLTV without a cab, fires the Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System. The MADIS is a counter-drone weapon mounted on the JLTV.

“At this time, AM General has [a] backlog for deliveries of vehicles through 2027, and AM General remains committed to meeting our contractual delivery requirements,” AM General said in a statement on May 2 in response to the Army’s decision to divest.

“As we work to understand the significance of the DoD’s recent communications, we will continue to operate our HUMVEE and JLTV A2 assembly lines and our Aftermarket Fulfillment facility as normal to meet our contractual requirements and serve the warfighter.”

AAccording to the CRS report, the vehicle is available in two- and four-seat versions and can be transported by various aircraft, including rotary wingers.

Infantry Squad Vehicle

Instead of purchasing additional JLTVs, the Army intends to meet some of its mobility needs with the Infantry Squad Vehicle, a much smaller, scaled-down all-terrain vehicle. According to an Army Transformation Initiative memo published on May 1, the service intends to divest the vehicle gradually.

So far, the service has acquired 20,000 vehicles. The Army began using the JLTV in 2019, the same year that the Marine Corps received its first vehicles.

Representative Betty McCollum, D-Minn., who is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee, stated that the Army did not inform the Marine Corps prior to its decision to divest.

“That’s beyond disappointing. Joint means joint. That’s what ‘J’ stands for. McCollum stated that the joint program should inform any necessary changes to joint decisions.

Army Vice Chief Gen. James Mingus told reporters in Tennessee on May 14 that the Army purchased its final batch of JLTVs in January, according to Breaking Defense.

“We will not make any future procurement purchases for the JLTV for the Army, but the Marine Corps and Foreign Military Sales partners can continue to do so,” Mr. Mingus said. “We believe we have enough; they [USMC and foreign customers] can continue to do so.” However, we have an adequate number of JLTVs within our armored, heavy, and Stryker formations. “We’ve already bought enough.”