The United States Marine Corps continues to operate despite the Army's decision to halt the program Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Although this situation will result in increased costs per vehicle, as stated by Marine Corps Commandant General Eric Smith, it is emphasized that the JLTV is indispensable for the Marine Corps' land tactical vehicle fleet.
Origins and Evolution of the JLTV Program
The JLTV program was initially designed to replace both the Marine Corps and Army's light tactical vehicle fleets, which largely consisted of Humvees. The process, led by a joint program office, Oshkosh defense It was identified as the first choice to build the JLTV in August 2015. The initial low-rate production contract awarded to Oshkosh Defense was worth $16.901 billion for the first 6,7 vehicles, according to a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report. It will then be extended to 2023. AM GeneralThe follow-on contract awarded to was set at $30.000 billion for 10.000 JLTVs and 8 trailers.
Withdrawal of the Army and Its Consequences
The Army’s sudden decision to exit the JLTV program has significant implications for the Marine Corps. The decision will increase per-unit costs, and the Corps is still evaluating the full impact of the Army’s exit from the joint program, Gen. Eric Smith said. “It will negatively impact the Marine Corps’ ability to execute its ground tactical vehicle mobility strategy, and that concerns me,” Smith said. Instead of purchasing more JLTVs, the Army is looking to purchase a much smaller, scaled-down all-terrain vehicle Infantry Squad Vehicle The Army is known to plan to meet some of its mobility needs with the . An Army Transformation Initiative memo published May 1 said the service will phase out the vehicle over time. The Army has purchased 20.000 JLTVs to date and began fielding them in 2019, the same year the Marines began receiving their first vehicles.
The Importance of the JLTV for the Marine Corps
Marines, ROGUE-Fires ve Maritime Air Defense Integration System (MADIS) The ROGUE-Fires system uses a cabinless, remote-controlled JLTV to fire the Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Intervention System, while MADIS serves as a JLTV-mounted counter-drone weapon. These systems demonstrate how critical the JLTV is to the Marine Corps’ operational capabilities.
Concerns and Lack of Communication
Representative Betty McCollum, a Democrat from Minnesota and a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee, said she was “appalled” to learn that the Army had not notified the Marine Corps of its intentions before making the divestment decision. “This is beyond disappointing. Joint means joint. That’s what the ‘J’ stands for. Joint decisions should be informed together as part of joint programs if they need to change,” McCollum said.
AM General said in a statement on May 2 in response to the Army’s divestiture decision that it has a backlog of vehicle deliveries through 2027 and is committed to meeting contractual delivery requirements. The company added that it will continue to operate its HUMVEE and JLTV A2 assembly lines and Aftermarket Supply facility as normal.
Future and Global Sales
Speaking to reporters in Tennessee on May 14, Breaking Defense reported that the Army purchased the final JLTV package in January. “For the JLTV, we will not be making future procurement purchases for the Army, but the Marine Corps, [Foreign Military Sales] partners [may],” Mingus said. Mingus believes the Army has enough JLTVs in its armored vehicles, heavy and Stryker formations and has already purchased enough.
The JLTV is available in two- and four-person versions and can be carried by a variety of aircraft, including rotary-wing aircraft, according to the CRS report. This flexibility means the vehicle will continue to be a significant asset for the Marine Corps and other international customers well into the future. While the Army’s withdrawal is a turning point in the JLTV program, the Marine Corps’ commitment to the vehicle and its potential in the global defense market are likely to continue to shape the JLTV’s future.
