I just received this release from Humvee manufacturer AM General describing its team concept for the development of the next-generation tactical transport: the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.
As you all know, I think the JLTV project is a long time coming and is an exciting opportunity to leverage armor, powerplant, mechanical, vehicle systems and weapons advances since the design and fielding of the Humvee.
Its good to see some many companies jump into the program — and there’s a part of me that’s glad to see AM General isn’t fighting for the services to cling to its current technology, but is instead getting on the bandwagon with a strong effort on JLTV.
From “General Tactical Vehicles (a conglomerate of AM General and GD Land Systems):
Leveraging over 120 years of combined experience in the design, production and support of more than one million combat and tactical vehicles, General Tactical Vehicles has submitted its proposal for the Technology Development phase of the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program.
GTV’s offer for the JLTV optimizes survivability while maximizing power and payload. The approach focuses on commonality of systems and components along with modular armor, resulting in an innovative and agile vehicle system that will provide enhanced crew protection, considerable cargo capacity, ready transportability and unprecedented networked mobility.
“Our JLTV will provide America’s Soldiers and Marines a vehicle with the strong performance, flexibility, protection and sustainability they need across the full range of missions, locations and operational scenarios,” said Don Howe, GTV’s JLTV program director. “GTV’s JLTV will give our armed forces the rapid deployability, reliability, networking capabilities and survivability they need today and in the decades ahead.”
General Tactical Vehicles applies proven technologies along with a modular design that will accommodate continuing advances in armor and vehicle systems. “While it’s a significant advancement in design, it’s also affordable and practical,” said Howe. “Combined with manufacturing readiness that allows an accelerated path to production, our design will make the JLTV program a smart, low-risk investment for America’s armed forces and taxpayers.”
Innovative features of the GTV design include:
- Lightweight hybrid hull structure which provides a low-profile and blast-resistant vehicle designed to survive current and future threats
- Parallel arm adjustable height suspension to give the vehicle increased mine blast protection without jeopardizing air and sea transportability;
- Semi-active suspension ensuring safety enhanced mobility and crew comfort
- Proven propulsion systems with a high horsepower-to-weight ratio to maximize payload, plus a driveline that gives the vehicle tough off road capabilities
- Digital cockpit with C4I technologies connecting the crew to other units and systems
- A unique modular and scalable trailer that has mobility equal to the JLTV vehicle itself.
General Tactical Vehicles is a joint venture between AM General and General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics formed to provide the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps a low-risk, affordable, technically advanced and economically sustainable solution to their Joint Light Tactical Vehicle requirements. In 2006, both AM General and General Dynamics were awarded JLTV “Best Technical Approach” trade studies by the Office of Naval Research.
I’ve asked AM General for a photo or artist’s rendition of the vehicle, but I’m intrigued by this idea of a “modular and scalable trailer.” [Sounds like their making the vehicle itself smaller to generate a lower profile and adding a trailer for gear and other stuff. I wonder how well this is going to go over with the Army and Marine Corps. They could read it as just something else to break]…
EDITOR: good call dear readers, indeed a trailer is probably part of the RFP. I understand the need and the compatibility issues Ed, roger all and good input. Thanks!
– Christian
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Christian,
I thought I read somewhere that the gov’t had listed a request for a trailer to go along with the JLTV. I may be mistaken but I thought the other companies going after JLTV are, or have, made designs for a trailer.
I have seen some of the pictures from AUSA and they have some very interesting designs for this, could be interesting.
Best news yet IF approved: More surplus Humvees for the Public to buy.
OK.
Stephen: The public can no longer buy Surplus HMMWVs. They must be destroyed before they can be sold publicly, as scrap. The reasoning is that the HMMWV does not meet DOT standards. See here: http://www.drms.dla.mil/pubaff/html/faq_-general.html
and here: http://www.olive-drab.com/od_mvg_auctions_jeephmmwv.php3
The current HMMWV already has a trailer setup, and many trailer mounted pieces of equipment are compatible with the HMMWV. It makes perfect sense to have the next vehicle have that capability otherwise you would need a separate vehicle just to tow stuff that the HMMWV already can do.
As far as surplus Humvees go, I recall how much I hated them in the Army. Underpowered, they have that GM 6.2 liter diesel which was one of the worst engines ever put out. I drove humvees with that engine, two suburbans, and a couple of trucks. The 4×4 system was good, but a land cruiser has one at least as good and I trust it to keep running.
Glad to see another designer using the modular armor concept. It’s really the only way to go. MRAPs and even up-armored hummvees are not practical vehicles in many of the situations light trucks are used. At the same time, situations exist where some light resistance can be expected but moving heavy armor in is impractical.
When the HMMWV was designed I think the assumption was that armor was largely superfluous since it would simply slow the vehicle down or waste resources without having any discernible impact on the effectiveness of enemy fire, presumed at that time to originate from Soviet armored columns or aircraft. Modular armor allows for the humvee’s replacement to be useful in the conventional scenario above, but allows for extra protection in urban combat or insurgency situations.
Modular is great, until they get the role wrong, and the “light” version starts geting into heavy combat.
In other words, when the inevitable happens.
In “The Long Road Home” this happened in our first conflict in Sadar City.
They saw their role as just keeping the peace (since the Shia were supposed to be happy we were there….) and roled into the city with people in Humvees with canvas tops and open trucks…..
It did not work out so well….