U.S. Army is testing new Oshkosh JLTV Joint Light Tactical Vehicle at Aberdeen Proving Ground 10811165

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U.S. Army is testing new Oshkosh JLTV Joint Light Tactical Vehicle at Aberdeen Proving Ground.
U.S. army is testing the new Oshkosh JLTV (Joint Light Tactical Vehicle) at Aberdeen Proving Ground that will replace the Humvee which is in service since many years in the American armed forces. The Humvee is the standard light tactical vehicle of U.S. Army but it proved vulnerable during Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts to roadside bombs.
     
U.S. army is testing the new Oshkosh JLTV (Joint Light Tactical Vehicle) at Aberdeen Proving Ground that will replace the Humvee which is in service since many years in the American armed forces. The Humvee is the standard light tactical vehicle of U.S. Armybut it proved vulnerable in Afghanistan and Iraq to roadside bombs. Sgt. Maj. Andrew Connette with the Army Test & Evaluation Center stands next to the Oshkosh Joint Light Tactical Vehicle the Army is testing. (Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun)
     
The new Oshkosh JLTV will increase the protection of the crew against the new threats and especially against road side bombs or IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices)

The Army and Marines plan to buy some 55,000 JLTVs over the next two decades. The testing data gathered at Aberdeen and the other facilities will help the military make decisions about the future of the program.

Several versions of the new JLTV are planned. The first vehicle tested at Aberdeen Proving Ground is a two-door version that will likely serve as personnel carrier. Others will carry weapons systems, including missiles that could be used to destroy tanks or bunkers.

The JLTV is a tactical wheeled vehicle with a chassis that offers protection from underbelly blasts and an "intelligent" suspension system that can be raised and lowered for off-road conditions. It also touts greater fuel efficiency than current tactical vehicles.

In August 2016, it was announced that Oshkosh JLTV is the final winner for the JLTV program. The contract award has a potential value of US$6.749 billion and calls for a maximum of 16,901 JLTVs, and includes a sustainment element. JLTV manufacturing will be performed in Oshkosh, WI. Oshkosh CEO, Charles Szews, said the production contract award would involve more than 300 suppliers in 31 states across the country.

The first JLTV order was placed in March 2016 with the U.S. Army ordering 657 vehicles. The Oshkosh L-ATV (Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle) is a light utility/combat multi-role vehicle which is the winner for the US military's Army-led Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program.

The L-ATV is equipped with an advanced crew protection system which offers a protection level similar to that of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.

The Oshkosh L-ATV can be fitted with a variety of remote-controlled weapon stations or ring mount machine gun. The L-ATV's Oshkosh roof mounted turret is capable of mounting either an M240 machine gun, a Mk 19 grenade launcher or, a BGM-71 TOW Anti-tank guided missile, all of which can be operated either from the turret or remotely inside the cabin.