Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)

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Updated March 19, 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.
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Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)
FY2025 Budgetary Information
Oshkosh Protests JLTV Follow-On
Contract Award
Table 1. FY2025 DOD JLTV Budget Request
Reportedly, on March 5, 2023, Oshkosh submitted a protest
Total
of the award of the JLTV follow-on contract to the
Total Request
Request
Government Accountability Office (GAO). Oshkosh
Funding Category
($M)
(Qty.)
reportedly noted, “the government’s evaluation did not
RDT&E USA
$27

properly review the financial, technical and manufacturing
RDT&E USMC
$10.7

capabilities offered to select the best value and lowest risk
solution to deliver the JLTV.”
Procurement USA
$680.8
1,808

Procurement USAF
$69.5
127
Potential Issue for Congress
Procurement USN
$50.9

2024 Army Force Structure Transformation and
Procurement USMC
$340.5
674
JLTV Procurement
Source: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
On February 27, 2024, the Army announced “changes to its
(Comptrol er)/Chief Financial Officer, Program Acquisition Cost by
force structure that will modernize and continue to
Weapon System: United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2025
transform the service to better face future threats.”
Budget Request, March 2024, p. 3-2.
According to the Army, it plans to create a number of new
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test & Evaluation; $M =
units, enhance existing units, and reduced force structure
U.S. dollars in mil ions; Qty. = FY2025 procurement quantities.
designed primarily used to support counterinsurgency
Foreign Military Sales
operations. In each case, tactical units are likely comprised,
in part, by a number of JLTV variants. As such, the Army’s
According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency
significant force structure changes also could result in
(DSCA), which coordinates foreign military sales, there are
significant changes to the Army’s overall JLTV
seven foreign JLTV customers, including the United
requirements. Because of the scope of the Army’s proposed
Kingdom, Israel, Romania, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia,
force structure changes, Congress might decide to examine
and Montenegro.
how the Army’s plans affect the JLTV program in terms of
JLTV Follow-On Contract
quantities, costs, and production timelines.
The Army originally planned to award a follow-on full-rate
JLTV production contract to a single vendor in the fourth
Marine Corps Reexamining JLTV’s Role
quarter of FY2022. Reportedly, the Army pushed back the
According to a February 24, 2023, Inside Defense article,
due date for companies to bid on the JLTV follow-on
“the Marine Corps is evaluating its fleet of ground vehicles
contract based on requests from industry. The Army had
and considering an addition to the JLTV family as it seeks a
planned to award the single vendor contract in December
land platform lighter than the JLTV but more robust than
2022. Because the Army owns the technical data for the
the Ultra-Light Tactical Vehicle.” The article further states,
JLTV, it was able to conduct a competition to determine if
“right now, as we look at our ground mobility systems, we
other vendors could build the vehicle at a lower price than
have JLTV which is a relatively small vehicle. But for the
Oshkosh.
Marine Corps, we are looking to get lighter and lighter and
JLTV Follow-On Contract Awarded to
it [JLTV] is a fairly heavy vehicle.” The Marines are also
AM General
using JLTVs in other roles, such as the Marine Air Defense
Integrated Systems Increment One system, as well as the
Reportedly, on February 9, 2023, the Army awarded the
Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System
JLTV follow-on production contract, valued at more than
(NMESIS), which features a modified JLTV combined with
$8 billion, to AM General instead of Oshkosh. The contract
a medium-range cruise missile. The Marines are also
reportedly included five base ordering years and five one-
creating a number of new units, such as Marine Littoral
year optional ordering periods for both U.S. and foreign
Regiments (MLRs), which likely have unique JLTV
military sales. According to the provisions of the contract,
requirements given their mission. In concert with force
AM General is to produce up to 20,682 JLTVs and up to
structure changes associated with the Marines’ Force
9,883 trailers. AM General-produced JLTVs reportedly are
Design initiative, the Marines’ reexamination of the JLTV’s
to have additional capabilities “such as an automated
role could potentially change the overall JLTV requirement.
guided vehicle system, radio frequency identification, and
Given potential programmatic changes if the Marines
Global Positioning System (GPS) traceability.” In addition,
change their JLTV requirement, policymakers might decide
the vehicles are also to feature “an updated architecture, as
to review the Marines’ future intentions regarding the
well as enhanced corrosion protection and improved fuel
efficiency.”
JLTV.
The new JLTVs are reportedly to be produced
at AM General’s Mishawaka, IN, manufacturing facility,
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
with deliveries expected to begin in about 17 months.
IF11729


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Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11729 · VERSION 9 · UPDATED