US Army awards JLTV development contracts

摘要

The US Army announced the award of three contracts for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) competition on 29 October, giving 27-month development contracts to teams led by Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and BAE Systems. Under the contracts, each worth around USD40 million, the companies will build and test technology for the JLTV: a family of lightweight, survivable utility vehicles that will replace the Humvee. The three teams beat four others competing for the programme, which is ultimately expected to be worth billions of dollars. BAE Systems will partner Navistar International Corp for its contract; Lockheed Martin is paired with another BAE Systems unit known as Mobility & Protection Systems; and General Dynamics Land Systems has formed a joint venture known as General Tactical Vehicles with AM General. Much is at stake for the US defence industry, which expects orders for at least 60,000 JLTVs when a design is selected.