Oshkosh Defense Contract to Replace Humvee Worth $6.75B

Oshkosh Defense was awarded an Army contract to replace the Humvee with a new armored truck – called a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle – to be built in Wisconsin.

The Army has committed to buy 50,000 of the new vehicles at $250,000 a pop, while the Marines will purchase another 5,500, reported the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Oshkosh Defense won the $6.75 billion contract over Lockheed Martin Corp., BAE Systems Plc, and AM General LLC, which builds the Humvee.

Oshkosh will build 17,000 JLTVs for the Army and Marines over a three-year, low-rate production period, valued at $6.75 billion, according to a March Congressional Research Service report, reported USNI News.

Production will then move into a five-year full-rate production period, noted USNI News. The first Army units will take possession of the JLTVs in 2018 fiscal year.

The Congressional Research Services reported the new JLTVs will be bigger than the current Humvees yet more survivable.

"As planned, JLTVs would be more mechanically reliable, maintainable (with on-board diagnostics), all-terrain mobile, and equipped to link into current and future tactical data nets," according to the research report.

"Survivability and strategic and operational transportability by ship and aircraft are also key JLTV design requirements," noted USNI News.

Oshkosh CEO Charles Szews told USA Today the JLTV is 70 percent faster off-road and is one-third lighter. He said vehicle will protect soldiers from improvised explosive devices by raising the crew compartment further from the road, allowing explosions to dissipate before they strike the armor.

USA Today reported that in 2007 IEDs proved to be the biggest threat to soldiers in Iraq, tearing through the thin bellies of Humvees and lifting them skyward.

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