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Updated February 10, 2023
Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)
Background
The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Family of
JLTV CTV
Vehicles (FoV) is an Army-led, joint-service program
Figure 1. JLTV Combat Tactical Vehicle Variant
designed to replace a portion of each service’s light tactical
(CTV)
wheeled vehicle fleets. The JLTV FoV consists of two
variants: the four-seat Combat Tactical Vehicle (CTV)
(Figure 1) and the two-seat Combat Support Vehicle (CSV)
(Figure 2). The CTV is to support the General Purpose,
Heavy Gun Carrier and Close Combat Weapon Carrier
missions. The CSV is to support the Utility/Shelter Carrier
mission. The JLTV is transportable by a range of lift assets,
including rotary-wing aircraft. Its maneuverability enables
activities across the spectrum of terrain, including urban
areas, while providing organic and supplemental armor
against direct fire and improvised explosive device threats.
Program Status
The JLTV is currently being produced by Oshkosh
Defense, headquartered in Oshkosh, WI. In August 2015,
the Army awarded Oshkosh a $6.7 billion low-rate initial
Source: https://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/cs-css-joint-light-
production (LRIP) contract to procure the initial 16,901
tactical-vehicle/, accessed December 30, 2020.
vehicles for the Army and Marines. In June 2019, the
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisitions, Logistics,
JLTV CSV
and Technology) approved Army JLTV full-rate production
Figure 2. JLTV Combat Support Vehicle Variant
(FRP). The Army planned for a follow-on full-rate
(CSV)
production contract to be awarded to a single vendor in the
fourth quarter of FY2022. It is planned to be a competitive
five-year contract with five one-year options for about
30,000 JLTVs and 10,000 JLTV trailers. The Army began
fielding LRIP JLTVs to units in April 2019, and Marine
Corps units received their first LRIP JLTVs in February
2019.
Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) is a programmatic
decision made when manufacturing development is completed
and there is an ability to produce a small-quantity set of
articles. It also establishes an initial production base and sets
the stage for a gradual increase in production rate to allow for
Ful -Rate Production (FRP) upon completion of Operational
Test and Evaluation (OT&E).
Source: https://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/cs-css-joint-light-
Full-Rate Production (FRP) is a decision made that allows
tactical-vehicle/, accessed December 30, 2020.
for government contracting for economic production
quantities fol owing stabilization of the system design and
validation of the production process.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)
Budgetary Information
JLTV Follow-On Contract Awarded to
Table 1. FY2023 DOD JLTV Budget Request
AM General
Total
Reportedly, on February 9, 2023, the Army awarded the
Total Request
Request
JLTV follow-on production contract, valued at more than
Funding Category
($M)
(Qty.)
$8 billion, to AM General instead of Oshkosh. The contract
RDT&E USA
$9.4
—
is said to include five base ordering years and five one-year
RDT&E USMC
$2.9
—
optional ordering periods for both U.S. and foreign military
Procurement USA
$734.9
2,909
sales. According to the provisions of the contract, AM
General is to produce up to 20,682 JLTVs and up to 9,883
Procurement USAF
$60.8
138
trailers.
Procurement USN
$28.6
18
Procurement USMC
$222.3
656
The Army reportedly noted the goal of the follow-on
contract was to “incentivize industry to create JLTVs that
Source: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
were fuel efficient and had “anti-idle capability.” According
(Comptrol er)/Chief Financial Officer, Program Acquisition Cost by
Weapon System: United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year
to AM General, AM General-produced JLTVs are to have
2023 Budget Request, April 2022, p. 3-2.
additional capabilities “such as an automated guided
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test & Evaluation; $M =
vehicle system, radio frequency identification, and Global
U.S. dollars in mil ions; Qty. = FY2023 procurement quantities.
Positioning System (GPS) traceability.” In addition, the
vehicles are also to feature “an updated architecture, as well
Table 2. FY2023 JLTV Authorizations and
as enhanced corrosion protection and improved fuel
Appropriations
efficiency.” According to the company, the new JLTVs are
be produced at AM General’s Mishawaka, IN,
Total
manufacturing facility, with deliveries expected to begin in
Funding
Authorized Approp.
Request
17 months.
Category
($M)
($M)
(Qty.)
RDT&E USA
$9.4
$9.4
—
Potential Issue for Congress
RDT&E USMC
$2.9
$2.9
—
Procurement
$686.4
$664.1
2,909
Future of JLTV Procurement
USA
The Army’s current modernization strategy is focused on
Procurement
$60.5
$60.5
138
six modernization priorities that do not include the JLTV.
USAF
The Army announced in January 2022 that under the 2030
Force Design Initiative, the Army would either redesignate
Procurement
$28.6
$26.3
18
existing divisions or create new divisions into five new
USN
types of divisions. The Army announced in May 2022 that
Procurement
$222.3
$214.8
656
it would create a new Alaska-based division, the 11th
USMC
Airborne Division, by activating new units and
Source: Authorized: P.L. 117-263, H.R. 7776—James M. Inhofe
reconfiguring two Alaska-based Infantry Brigade Combat
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, December
Teams (IBCTs). With the creation of new division types
27, 2022, p. 735, p. 742, p. 712, p. 723, p. 727, p. 721, p. 734.
and an additional division in Alaska, it is possible that the
Appropriated: Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bil , H.R.
Army’s requirement for JLTVs could change significantly.
2617, Division C—Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2023,
December 19, 2022, p. 89N, p. 61A, p. 69B, p. 76A, p. 67F, p. 91J.
With the Marine Corps downsizing in accordance with its
Notes: Approp. = Appropriations.
March 2020 Force Design Initiative and adoption of a more
expeditionary posture (possibly requiring fewer JLTVs),
Foreign Military Sales
original JLTV procurement plans for both the Army and
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notes
Marine Corps might no longer be accurate. Despite the
approved JLTV sales to the United Kingdom (2,747),
Army’s intent to lower costs by awarding the follow-on
Lithuania (500), Poland (26), and Montenegro (20).
production contract to AM General, slowing production
rates and extended procurement timelines could act to
JLTV Follow-On Contract
increase costs if current JLTV requirements are no longer
The Army originally planned to award a follow-on full-rate
valid. In addition, different versions of the JLTV produced
JLTV production contract to a single vendor in the fourth
by AM General might result in additional operations and
quarter of FY2022. Reportedly, the Army pushed back the
maintenance costs that can result from a mixed fleet of
due date for companies to bid on the JLTV follow-on
vehicles. Taken collectively, these issues might merit DOD
contract based on requests from industry. The Army had
and policymakers examining the future of JLTV
planned to award the single vendor contract in December
procurement.
2022. Because the Army owns the technical data for the
JLTV, it was able to conduct a competition to determine if
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
any vendors could build the vehicle at a lower price than
IF11729
Oshkosh, which was awarded the LRIP contract in 2015.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11729 · VERSION 7 · UPDATED