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Updated July 23, 2024
Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)
Background
The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Family of
JLTV Combat Tactical Vehicle (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
In August 2015, the Army awarded Oshkosh Defense a
$6.7 billion low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract to
procure the initial 16,901 vehicles for the Army and
Source: https://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/cs-css-joint-light-
Marines. In June 2019, the Assistant Secretary of the Army
tactical-vehicle/, accessed December 30, 2020.
(Acquisitions, Logistics, and Technology) approved Army
JLTV full-rate production (FRP). The Army planned for a
JLTV Combat Support Vehicle (CSV)
follow-on full-rate production contract awarded to a single
Figure 2. JLTV Combat Support Vehicle Variant
vendor in the fourth quarter of FY2022. It was reportedly to
(CSV)
be a competitive five-year contract with five one-year
options for about 30,000 JLTVs and 10,000 JLTV trailers.
The Army began fielding LRIP JLTVs to units in April
2019, and Marine Corps units received their first LRIP
JLTVs in February 2019.
Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) is a programmatic
decision made when manufacturing development is completed
and there is an ability to produce a small-quantity set of
articles. It also establishes an initial production base and sets
the stage for a gradual increase in production rate to allow for
Ful -Rate Production (FRP) upon completion of Operational
Test and Evaluation (OT&E).
Full-Rate Production (FRP) is a decision made that allows
for government contracting for economic production
Source: https://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/cs-css-joint-light-
quantities fol owing stabilization of the system design and
tactical-vehicle/, accessed December 30, 2020.
validation of the production process.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)
FY2025 Budgetary Information
capabilities offered to select the best value and lowest risk
solution to deliver the JLTV.”
Table 1. FY2025 DOD JLTV Budget Request
Total Request
Total Request
Delivery of AM General’s First JLTVs
Funding Category
($M)
(Qty.)
Delayed
RDT&E USA
$27
—
Reportedly, AM General’s initial delivery of JLTVs to the
Army has been delayed by six months due to challenges
RDT&E USMC
$10.7
—
starting up a new production line. It was further noted that
Procurement USA
$680.8
1,808
“in addition to normal start of production headwinds, the
Procurement USAF
$69.5
127
transition from an incumbent vendor has presented unique
Procurement USN
$50.9
—
challenges for AM General related to sourcing directed
Procurement USMC
$340.5
674
parts, intellectual property, tooling, and part qualification.”
Despite the six-month delay, a program spokesman
Source: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
reportedly stated that “the JLTV program is fully prepared
(Comptrol er)/Chief Financial Officer, Program Acquisition Cost by
to execute the FY2025 budget position and will continue to
Weapon System: United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2025
Budget Request, March 2024, p. 3-2.
meet all its program, fielding, and integration requirements
while delivering an estimated $1 billion in savings over the
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test & Evaluation; $M =
U.S. dollars in mil ions; Qty. = FY2025 procurement quantities.
life of the contract.”
Foreign Military Sales
Potential Issue for Congress
According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency
2024 Army Force Structure Transformation and
(DSCA), which coordinates foreign military sales, there are
JLTV Procurement
seven foreign JLTV customers, including the United
On February 27, 2024, the Army announced “changes to its
Kingdom, Israel, Romania, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia,
force structure that will modernize and continue to
and Montenegro.
transform the service to better face future threats.”
JLTV Follow-On Contract
According to the Army, it plans to create a number of new
units, enhance existing units, and reduced force structure
The Army originally planned to award a follow-on full-rate
designed primarily used to support counterinsurgency
JLTV production contract to a single vendor in the fourth
operations. In each case, tactical units are likely comprised,
quarter of FY2022. Reportedly, the Army pushed back the
in part, by a number of JLTV variants. As such, the Army’s
due date for companies to bid on the JLTV follow-on
significant force structure changes also could result in
contract based on requests from industry. The Army had
significant changes to the Army’s overall JLTV
planned to award the single vendor contract in December
requirements. Because of the scope of the Army’s proposed
2022. Because the Army owns the technical data for the
force structure changes, Congress might decide to examine
JLTV, it was able to conduct a competition to determine if
how the Army’s plans affect the JLTV program in terms of
other vendors could build the vehicle at a lower price than
quantities, costs, and production timelines.
Oshkosh.
JLTV Follow-On Contract Awarded to
Marine Corps Reexamining JLTV’s Role
AM General
According to a February 24, 2023, Inside Defense article,
“the Marine Corps is evaluating its fleet of ground vehicles
Reportedly, on February 9, 2023, the Army awarded the
and considering an addition to the JLTV family as it seeks a
JLTV follow-on production contract, valued at more than
land platform lighter than the JLTV but more robust than
$8 billion, to AM General instead of Oshkosh. The contract
the Ultra-Light Tactical Vehicle.” The article further states,
reportedly included five base ordering years and five one-
“right now, as we look at our ground mobility systems, we
year optional ordering periods for both U.S. and foreign
have JLTV which is a relatively small vehicle. But for the
military sales. According to the provisions of the contract,
Marine Corps, we are looking to get lighter and lighter and
AM General is to produce up to 20,682 JLTVs and up to
it [JLTV] is a fairly heavy vehicle.” The Marines are also
9,883 trailers. AM General-produced JLTVs reportedly are
using JLTVs in other roles, such as the Marine Air Defense
to have additional capabilities “such as an automated
Integrated Systems Increment One system, as well as the
guided vehicle system, radio frequency identification, and
Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System
Global Positioning System (GPS) traceability.” In addition,
(NMESIS), which features a modified JLTV combined with
the vehicles are also to feature “an updated architecture, as
a medium-range cruise missile. The Marines are also
well as enhanced corrosion protection and improved fuel
efficiency.”
creating a number of new units, such as Marine Littoral
The new JLTVs are reportedly to be produced
at AM General’s Mishawaka,
Regiments (MLRs), which likely have unique JLTV
IN, manufacturing facility,
requirements given their mission. In concert with force
with deliveries expected to begin in about 17 months.
structure changes associated with the Marines’ Force
Oshkosh Protests JLTV Follow-On
Design initiative, the Marines’ reexamination of the JLTV’s
Contract Award
role could change the overall JLTV requirement. Given
Reportedly, on March 5, 2023, Oshkosh submitted a protest
potential programmatic changes if the Marines change their
of the award of the JLTV follow-on contract to the
JLTV requirement, policymakers might decide to review
Government Accountability Office (GAO). Oshkosh
the Marines’ future intentions regarding the JLTV.
reportedly noted, “the government’s evaluation did not
properly review the financial, technical and manufacturing
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
IF11729
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11729 · VERSION 10 · UPDATED