U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command

September 10, 2009

Army awards Technology Development contract modifications for Australian effort

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. - The Army and Marine Corps formally awarded Technology Development (TD) contract modifications to each of the three industry partners in accordance with the Australian Project Arrangement (PA) for the current phase of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV) program. Independent modifications were made to BAE Systems, General Tactical Vehicles and Lockheed Martin contracts during July and August.

Each award features the acquisition of right hand operation JLTV vehicles, companion trailers and testing efforts:

  • BAE Systems Land & Armaments: Includes the acquisition of three right hand operation JLTV vehicles and one companion trailer, each to be built in compliance with Australian PA. BAE Systems will design, develop, fabricate and deliver one JLTV-A General Purpose Mobility, one JLTV-B-C2OTM/AU Command Control On-The-Move, one JLTV-C-UTL/AU Utility Vehicle-Shelter Carrier, and one JLTV/T-AU Prototype Companion Trailer for reliability and performance testing.

  • General Tactical Vehicles (GTV): GTV will design three JLTV sub-configuration vehicles for right hand operation (Payload categories A, B, and C) and then fabricate two (payload categories B and C) for right hand operation along with one JLTV-T/AU Prototype Companion Trailer for reliability and performance testing.

  • Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin will design and develop three JLTV sub-configuration vehicles in right hand operation. Additionally, Lockheed Martin will fabricate and deliver two sub-configurations (payload categories B and C) and one JLTV-T/AU Prototype Companion Trailer for reliability and performance testing, each to support the PA.

"Under the original TD contracts each of the three JLTV industry teams will deliver [to the U.S. Government] ballistic coupons and a number of ballistic hulls for evaluation at Aberdeen Test Center during the August-December 2009 timeframe," stated Lt. Col. Wolfgang Petermann, the Army's Product Manager for JLTV.

Following industry and government design reviews for U.S. and Australian vehicles, the three JLTV industry teams will each deliver prototype vehicles and trailers during April/May 2010, which will be followed with twelve months of Government Testing.

"Testing will be primarily conducted at Aberdeen Test Center, Md. and Yuma Test Center, Ariz.," added Lt. Col. Ruben Garza, Marine Corps JLTV Program Manager.

In addition to the U.S. Government's JLTV vehicle test and evaluations, reliability and performance demonstrations of each Australian vehicle will be conducted at Aberdeen Proving Grounds for up to 15,000 miles per vehicle. Once stateside testing is completed, JLTV vehicles will be sent to Australia for tropical environment testing, and additional reliability and ballistic testing.

"Testing in Australia will compliment the U.S. test program, and include limited Australian Warfighter evaluations to assess the suitability of the JLTV to meet our requirements," said Lt. Col. Alistair Dickie of the Australian Army.

The U.S.-Australian PA, which became effective on January 21, 2009, will develop and document a harmonized JLTV program through cooperative risk reduction, experiments and demonstrations, modeling and simulation, testing, and data collection. This should result in an enhanced JLTV program and allow for continued cooperation in the JLTV program development.

Currently, two Australian Co-operative Program Personnel are supporting the JLTV Program Management Office at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township, Mich.

The JLTV program is aligned with a joint program office under the management of the U.S. Army's Project Manager for Joint Combat Support Systems which falls under the leadership of Program Executive Officer for Combat Support and Combat Service Support. The joint protection requirements found within JLTV are designed to better meet Warfighter's current and future survivability needs; all packaged in a mobile, transportable, supportable, and expeditionary solution. The JLTV will restore balance to the Tactical Wheeled Vehicle (TWV) fleet.

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For more information contact the JLTV Strategic Communications Office at (586) 239-2152.