BAE, Navistar unveil JLTV prototype

[unhappycamper]

BAE, Navistar unveil JLTV prototype
By Kris Osborn - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Feb 29, 2008 11:51:21 EST

Before a curious crowd of hundreds, along with music, live commentary and flashing lights, BAE and Navistar pulled back the cover on their Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) prototype at the winter Association of the United States Army Convention in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., revealing an 8-ton, diamond-shaped vehicle painted with patriotic stars and stripes.

“What we’ve done is take the best of the best between Navistar and ourselves and put those together into a package that meets all the requirements,” said Peter Ciriscioli, JLTV program manager, BAE and Navistar.

Combat vehicle maker BAE and truck-building powerhouse Navistar International have teamed up to purse a JLTV prototype; the vehicle has V-shaped hull and a diamond-like side design to maximize blast protection.

“It is a mine-resistant, blast-resistant shape which is consistent with the technology we use on our MRAP ,” Ciriscioli said. “All the shapes are there for a reason. The customer has given us more than 1,000 requirements to balance protection and payload.”

Like several of the other prototypes, the vehicle is built with scalable, lightweight armor protection using composite materials and variable ride-height suspension; the Army’s JLTV requirements say the vehicle must reach an overall height of 76 inches for ship transport. At the same time, for protection against roadside bombs and other threats, the suspension can be adjusted to lift the chassis higher off the ground.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/defense_BAEnavistar_JLTV_022808/



uhc comment: Meet the $250,000 (2006 guesstimate) JLTV:



According to govexec.com -->

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39069&ref=rellink

Humvee replacement program to begin next month
By Greg Grant [email protected] January 18, 2008

The Army and Marine Corps plan to invite manufacturers to submit competing proposals to build the follow-on vehicle to the ubiquitous Humvee at the end of January, in what is expected to be one of the largest-ever vehicle acquisition programs.

The Army said at least two firms will be selected in June to build the prototypes for the follow-on, dubbed the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, followed by a 27-month-long technology demonstration period. The Army then will award contracts to two firms to proceed with a vehicle development and demonstration phase, at the conclusion of which the service will select a single manufacturer to begin production.

Production is expected to begin in the 2012-2013 period. But according to the Army Tank and Automotive Command JLTV Web site, at the conclusion of the technology demonstration, if one of the prototype vehicles demonstrates proven technology, it may be selected to begin immediate production. The command will hold a pre-proposal conference for industry in Warren, Mich., Feb. 19-21.

Language in the 2008 Defense authorization bill said that while the conferees strongly support the JLTV program, it restricts the Pentagon from beginning production until the technology is proven to be reliable and the program is deemed affordable. The target cost per vehicle is $200,000 to $250,000, according to a May 2006 Office of Naval Research JLTV industry day conference finding. An armored Humvee costs around $150,000.

While the eventual size and value of the JLTV contracts have not been announced, the number of Humvees the Army and Marine Corps want gives an indication of the program's size. Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard Cody, in an appearance before a House appropriations subcommittee on April 17, 2007, said the Army intends for the JLTV to replace 130,000 of the service's Humvees. The Marine Corps requirement is expected to be substantially smaller, around 15,000 vehicles.