Bae Systems and Navistar International have revealed the vehicle they will use to compete for the US Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) programme.
JLTV is a US defence force initiative to field a family of future light tactical vehicles.
The BAE Ground Systems-Navistar JLTV design, unveiled at the AUSA Winter Symposium in Florida, takes a user-centric design approach, BAE says.
The design optimises the “iron triangle” – payload, protection and performance – to meet JLTV requirements.
The 16,000lb vehicle features the latest in lightweight, advanced armour, a v-shaped hull design and incorporates lessons learned from the US Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle programme.
The JLTV competition, which could be worth over US$10bn in the long-term, calls for ten different vehicle models, with thee payload categories.
The vehicles should be armoured, have network connectivity, be light enough to be transported by a range of aircraft and feature common parts, systems, tools, training and maintenance procedures.
The army will award three contracts for a 27-month technology development phase in July 2008, followed by a system development and demonstration phase to begin in 2011.
By Elizabeth Clifford-Marsh
