The US Army has awarded Oshkosh Defense a $102-million contract to produce Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV) for its international allies.
The tactical vehicles will be handed over to the armed forces of Romania, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Brazil, and Montenegro to bolster their ground mobility.
According to the American defense firm, the contract reflects the willingness of US allies to leverage the vehicle’s “superior mobility, proven protection, and unmatched reliability.”
“We are committed to supporting our international allies in protecting their warfighters and strengthening their capabilities while improving interoperability with the US military,” Oshkosh vice president John Lazar said.
Once delivered, Lithuania will have a fleet of 500 JLTVs by the end of 2024, as it recently received several of the tactical vehicles from Oshkosh Defense.
The JLTV
Initially developed for the US Army and the US Marine Corps, Oshkosh’s JLTV is based on the light combat tactical all-terrain vehicle.
It comes in four variants: a utility vehicle, a general-purpose vehicle, a weapons carrier, and a heavy gun carrier.
The vehicle possesses enhanced crew protection, particularly from blasts under the carriage.
The JLTV can be fitted with a Boeing compact laser weapon system and a Kongsberg Protector LW-30 remote weapon system.
It can also be transported by air with CH-47 and CH-53 helicopters.