Weight issues aside, Army sticks with JLTV - Military News | News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

Weight issues aside, Army sticks with JLTV

The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle has been viewed as promising more blast protection and mobility than the Humvee in a package light enough to haul by helicopter.

But what if it can’t be made light enough for a helicopter to get it off the ground? Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway cast doubt on the JLTV program April 29, saying he does not think industry has “stayed apace of the vision” to develop the JLTV.

“If it comes in at the weight where it is right now, the Marine Corps simply cannot get involved [and] will not buy a joint light tactical vehicle that’s 20,000 pounds,” Conway said.

That’s a departure for the Corps, which is developing the JLTVs with the Army. The Pentagon has called it the centerpiece of the military’s long-term lightweight vehicle needs, with 10 planned variants in three weight classes.

An Army spokeswoman said the service is “moving ahead” with its JLTV plans. The vehicle’s requirements say it must be light enough to be carried by the Army’s CH-47 Chinook and the Corps’ CH-53E Super Stallion, with a curb weight — meaning no armor or payload — of less than 12,000 pounds for the lightweight “A” class and less than 16,600 pounds for the “B” and “C” weight classes.

Other JLTV guidelines say the CH-53E is capable of lifting a JLTV of up to 16,800 pounds externally, while the CH-47F is capable of hauling one up to 17,940 pounds.

The vehicles may exceed 20,000 pounds when payload and armor are added, and officials will test tradeoffs to the “B” and “C” variants to bring those vehicles under 20,000 pounds, said David Branham, a JLTV spokesman.

Lt. Col. Ruben Garza, the Corps’ JLTV program manager, said the finalists for the project — BAE Systems/Navistar, Lockheed Martin and General Tactical Vehicles — are building prototypes to specifications outlined by Army and Marine officials. Each finalist was awarded a contract in October, and is expected to deliver prototypes by May 2010.

The weight requirement is necessary in order for the JLTV to be externally lifted and transported by CH-47 for the Army and CH-53 for the Marine Corpsand internally aboard C-130s, Garza said.

Officials with all three firms said they intend to be compliant with the JLTV program’s requirements.

BAE Systems/Navistar said their first prototype, the Valanx, has a curb weight of about 15,400 pounds. General Tactical Vehicles and Lockheed Martin declined to release specifications.