Humvee replacement program to begin next month

The Army and Marine Corps plan to invite manufacturers to submit competing proposals to build the follow-on vehicle to the ubiquitous Humvee at the end of January, in what is expected to be one of the largest-ever vehicle acquisition programs.

The Army said at least two firms will be selected in June to build the prototypes for the follow-on, dubbed the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, followed by a 27-month-long technology demonstration period. The Army then will award contracts to two firms to proceed with a vehicle development and demonstration phase, at the conclusion of which the service will select a single manufacturer to begin production.

Production is expected to begin in the 2012-2013 period. But according to the Army Tank and Automotive Command JLTV Web site, at the conclusion of the technology demonstration, if one of the prototype vehicles demonstrates proven technology, it may be selected to begin immediate production. The command will hold a pre-proposal conference for industry in Warren, Mich., Feb. 19-21.

Language in the 2008 Defense authorization bill said that while the conferees strongly support the JLTV program, it restricts the Pentagon from beginning production until the technology is proven to be reliable and the program is deemed affordable. The target cost per vehicle is $200,000 to $250,000, according to a May 2006 Office of Naval Research JLTV industry day conference finding. An armored Humvee costs around $150,000.

While the eventual size and value of the JLTV contracts have not been announced, the number of Humvees the Army and Marine Corps want gives an indication of the program's size. Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard Cody, in an appearance before a House appropriations subcommittee on April 17, 2007, said the Army intends for the JLTV to replace 130,000 of the service's Humvees. The Marine Corps requirement is expected to be substantially smaller, around 15,000 vehicles.

The JLTV will incorporate lessons learned from Iraq, where the scourge of roadside bombs led to costly efforts to add bolt-on armor to Humvees. When that failed, the Army rushed large, heavily armored mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles to the battlefield. The MRAPs, which costs between $700,000 to $1.2 million each, were a short-gap measure to immediately address requests from battlefield commanders for a vehicle that was better protected from mine blasts than the Humvee. The Army views JLTV as a long-term solution. The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle will be considerably lighter than the Humvee, weighing between 3,500 and 5,100 pounds, depending on the vehicle variants. A fully armored Humvee weighs 12,000 pounds and more. While lighter, the vehicle is expected to be more resistant to mine blasts than the Humvee. The JLTV will ride higher off the ground to provide added clearance and will incorporate a V-shaped hull that deflects blasts outward.

The JLTV will use lightweight composite armor and will have better fuel efficiency than the Humvee. It may be outfitted with an active protection system designed to shoot down incoming projectiles. The vehicles will come equipped with an advanced digital network that provides sensor-enhanced visibility of the battlefield and improved communications.

The vehicles must be light and compact enough to be carried underneath the Army's CH-47 Chinook workhorse cargo lifter and the Marine's CH-53 Super Stallion heavy lifter, and two JLTV vehicles must fit inside the Air Force's C-130 short-range transport aircraft.

JLTV program officials envision a common chassis with at least 11 different configurations, including a four-seat general purpose vehicle, a six-seat infantry carrier and scout vehicle, a close combat weapons carrier, an ambulance capable of carrying four litters, and a cargo hauler.

While the common chassis will include an armor skin, the vehicle will be designed to accommodate bolt-on armor packages of varying thickness and protection that can be adjusted according to specific threats from mines or small arms. The JLTV also will carry a variety of plug-and-play sensors and roof-mounted weapons systems, including machine guns and grenade launchers.

A number of firms have teamed up to compete for what is expected to be a lucrative JLTV contract, including a Northrop Grumman-Oshkosh Trucking team; a General Dynamics Land Systems and AM General team; Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems; Textron and Boeing; and Force Protection International.