LIVONIA, Mich. –- The General Tactical Vehicles (GTV) team of General Dynamics Land Systems and AM General today delivered two Right-Hand Operation (RHO) Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), one companion trailer and supporting equipment on schedule to the U.S. government for Technology Development (TD) phase testing in support of the U.S. and Australia’s Land Force Capability Modernization Project Arrangement (PA).

The PA enables tactical vehicle interoperability and integration between the two countries. Delivery of the RHO JLTVs follows GTV’s previous ahead-of-schedule deliveries of armor samples, ballistic hulls, seven vehicles and four trailers and spare parts for the TD phase.

Test and evaluation of the RHO JLTVs includes a five-month reliability and durability test and evaluation process at the Monegeetta Proving Ground in Monegeetta, Victoria, Australia. Test site management for GTV will be performed by General Dynamics Land Systems-Australia and supported by Australian in-country suppliers.

“Our RHO JLTVs provide increased protection, payload and performance for the Australian Defence Force, as well as over 90 percent commonality with the GTV JLTV vehicles delivered to the U.S. Army and Marine Corps in April,” said Don Howe, GTV senior program director. “I am very proud of the effort demonstrated by our GTV team, including our supplier network, to deliver a balanced solution to meet the technical and programmatic challenges of the very demanding JLTV program, the U.S government and the Australian Defence Force.”

“The GTV team’s significant experience with deployed global forces gives us unique and valuable insight into the needs of the Australian Defence Force,” added Howe. “Delivering on schedule and within budget underlines our proven track record of dependability and performance.”

Drawing from the experiences of General Dynamics and AM General to build and support tactical and combat vehicles, GTV’s vehicle design provides an armored crew capsule with an optimized V-shaped hull for protection against mines and IEDs, a state-of-the-art C4 architecture that accommodates future force technology capabilities, high-performance and off-road mobility and deployability by land, sea and air.

“Our robust, disciplined and focused system-engineering approach placed the American Warfighter at the center of product design. GTV has developed an innovative family of vehicles and trailers for the United States that meets transportability, survivability and mobility requirements while achieving maximum commonality of components to reduce parts, maintenance and training needs,” said David Caldwell, GTV deputy program director.

"As our military prepares for future coalition operations, similarity of tactical vehicle solutions across allies will enhance global interoperability and reduce the maintenance and logistical burden," said Mark McCoy, U.S. Army JLTV product manager. “Australia’s participation in the JLTV program will help reduce overall program risk through the testing and evaluation of additional prototype vehicles.”

The JLTV TD phase is intended to validate the integration of mature technologies as a complete vehicle system, rebalancing payload, protection and performance while maintaining transportability and expeditionary capabilities; give the Army, Marine Corps and the Australian Defence Force an accurate assessment of the technical and performance capabilities and risks associated with entering the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) Phase; and establish a realistic set of requirements for the JLTV program.

GTV has invested in additional JLTV vehicles and trailers as part of its independent R&D program. “We are continuing our own extensive testing for reliability and durability to complement the government effort and prepare for the next, full-and-open competition phase of the JLTV development program,” said Howe. “We’re continuing to evaluate suppliers in Australia for emerging technologies, should the U.S. and Australia continue their JLTV partnership into the EMD phase – taking advantage of our JLTV’s built-in capacity for technology insertion, growth opportunities and product improvements.”

General Dynamics
21.07.2010