Army approves JLTV Full-Rate Production
Army approves JLTV Full-Rate
Dr. Bruce Jette, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, approved the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program’s transition into Full-Rate Production yesterday.
The approval follows an Army decision in December 2018 to begin fielding the new platform with the Army’s 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia, in April. The 1-3 ID became the Army’s first unit equipped with JLTVs in April 2019, after receiving more than 300 vehicles.
Fieldings to the Ordnance School, Fort Lee, Virginia, the 84th Training Command, Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, the Marine Corps’ School of Infantry-West at Camp Pendleton, California, as well as the School of Infantry-East, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, have also been completed.
“Thanks to tremendous teamwork across two services on requirements, resources, program management, testing, and other areas, this is a great modernization success story. JLTV shows how teams focused on stable requirements, mature technologies and the right incentives can deliver meaningful capability advancements in a cost-conscious way,” said Jeffrey White, Jette’s principal deputy.
The JLTV family of vehicles is designed to restore payload and performance that were traded from light tactical vehicles to add protection in recent conflict, giving commanders an improved protected mobility solution and the first vehicle purpose-built for modern battlefield networks.
“Getting an improved capability into the hands of Soldiers and Marines has been our team’s driving focus throughout this program, said Michael Sprang, Project Manager, Joint Program Office, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles. They are why we do what we do, and I’m so proud of the hard-working team that brought us to this point.
“We are also grateful for Soldier feedback on new features and enhancements,” he continued. “The Soldiers of the 1st ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division provided valuable input on enhancements such as increased situational awareness, reduction of system noise, a troop seat kit, and a companion JLTV trailer. Their assessments helped bring us all to a successful Full-Rate Production decision.”
The JLTV program remains on schedule and on budget to replace a significant portion of the Army’s High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle fleet. The JLTV comes in two variants and four mission package configurations: General Purpose, Close Combat Weapons Carrier, Heavy Guns Carrier, and a Utility vehicle. The U.S. Navy and Air Force also plan to field JLTVs in much smaller quantities.
1ABCT, 3ID Soldiers provide feedback for JLTV improvements
By Maj. Peter Bogart May 1
The “Big 4” refers to the new capability added to the truck with these enhancements – increased situational awareness (roughly 250% larger rear windows and the Forward Facing Camera), added muffler, troop seat kit, and the JLTV-Trailer. Soldiers took part in the test as drivers, truck commanders, and rear seat and troop seat passengers.
The muffler was added to reduce engine noise and make it easier for the crew to communicate, a front facing camera helps ensure operators can better see terrain near the vehicle, especially going over embankments, and the troop seat kit and trailer add to the personnel and cargo carrying capacity and give Soldiers a trailer capable of handling the same increased speed over rough terrain as the JLTV itself.
During the test, Soldiers spent a day going through convoy operations in the vehicles without the upgrades and then went through the same lanes in vehicles with the upgraded features. Pfc. Allan Muraira said the larger windows were crucial to being able to scan for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) or other hazards during tactical halts.
“My eyes didn’t hurt as much because I wasn’t straining,” said Muraira. “It’s hard to see out the smaller window which made it hard to do your fives and 25s without opening the door.”
Soldiers also mentioned how the reduced engine noise from the new mufflers made it easier to communicate inside the vehicle.
The most popular feature for the drivers and truck commanders is the front facing camera. Sgt. Daniel Kledzinski said that on the first day of the testing they took the trucks to the wash racks where they were able to drive up the ramps with better visibility to elevate the front of the vehicle and contrast what is seen through the front window and what the camera adds.
It made a world of difference because with the camera you can actually see what you are about to drive over,” said Kledzinski.
Kledzinski also said that the noise dampening improved comfort and was less fatiguing, both factors that would be magnified on long convoys or mission.
Two JLTV trailers were used during the testing and in addition to providing feedback on the towing performance, Soldiers were evaluated on how long it took to couple and uncouple the trailers.
Maj. Erika Hanson, Assistant Production Manager for JLTV Systems Integration, said that the decision has already been made to install all JLTVs with the larger windows, camera, and mufflers while the troop seat kit and JLTV trailer are still in the test phase. Raider Soldiers are the first in the Army to field the JLTV and their input is part of an ongoing process in the JLTV fielding program.
“This event is to get Soldier feedback which will be provided to Army Senior Leadership in conjunction with developmental testing at Aberdeen Test Center,” said Hanson.
1ABCT Soldiers have fielded over 320 JLTVs since January and have already integrated them into their daily operations. The brigade is currently training up for a January 2020 decisive action rotation to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Ca.