Joint Light Tactical Vehicles will replace thousands of Humvees in the US Military. (AFP Photo)
First there was the Jeep, then came the Humvee. Now the US military has a new all-purpose vehicle that's destined to become another emblem of American fighting power: the JLTV.
Granted, the name is not as catchy as its predecessors, but the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle signals a technological leap forward that the military hopes will protect troops for decades to come.
The US Army on August 25 announced a $6.75 billion contract for the Wisconsin-based manufacturer Oshkosh, which has a long track record of building military trucks and armored vehicles.
Oshkosh beat competitors Lockheed Martin and AM General, which makes the Humvee. The rivals may yet file protests over the contract award, which could potentially trigger delays.
In total, the Army plans to buy nearly 50,000 of the vehicles before 2040, while the Marine Corps wants 5,500. The total value of the contract over that time is estimated at $30 billion, with Oshkosh beginning to deliver vehicles 10 months from now.
John Bryant, the senior vice president of defence programs at Oshkosh, said vehicle designers focused on the threat of roadside bombs.
Unlike in a Humvee, parts of the new JLTV fragment so explosive forces are carried away from the cab, helping to dissipate the deadly energy.
"Pieces of the vehicle will definitely fly off," Bryant told AFP. "They are supposed to behave that way. You can see significant levels of destruction to portions of the vehicle, and yet the crew capsule with that precious cargo inside remains intact - and the crew survives."
While precise technical specifications remain secret, Bryant said the new vehicle has been designed for the future, meaning it can be readily adapted for changing military needs.
For instance, it can come fitted with a turret for a regular gunner, or else it can be equipped with a remotely operated weapon.
Similarly, it would be relatively straightforward to make the vehicle remote-controlled or give it a hybrid-electric engine.
Imagine a convoy of military vehicles: if the leading one is remote-controlled and hits a roadside bomb, there is no crew to get injured.
The Oshkosh JLTV has a hulking front end covering a 6.6-liter diesel engine and small, bulletproof windows.