The U.S. Marine Corps is reshaping its light vehicle fleet to equip Marines with the right mix of protected mobility for future missions. Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, has developed vehicle and upgrade offerings to meet those requirements, including a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) solution that will be showcased at Modern Day Marine in Quantico, VA, September 25 to 27.
“The last decade of conflict combined with an aging light vehicle fleet has shaped the Marine Corps’ priorities for its future vehicle fleets,” says John Bryant, Senior Vice President of Defense Programs for Oshkosh Defense. “Chief among those priorities is the JLTV, a transportable vehicle that will allow Marines to operate in rugged, off-road environments, while keeping them safe in high-intensity combat situations.”
The Oshkosh JLTV solution, the Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle (L-ATV), delivers unprecedented levels of off-road mobility for a light vehicle. Using the Oshkosh TAK-4i intelligent independent suspension system, the vehicle delivers a 25% improvement in independent wheel travel over most mobile vehicles currently fielded, giving Marines greater off-road performance across rough terrain. Marines already rely on Oshkosh’s combat-proven vehicles with today’s gold standard in off-road capability, such as the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) and MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV).
Oshkosh Defense was down selected for the Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) phase of the JLTV program in August 2012 and delivered its 22 JLTV prototypes for government evaluations last month ahead of schedule. Oshkosh will provide vehicle training and support for the prototypes as they undergo 14 months of robust military testing.
HMMWV Upgrade Solutions
In addition to the procuring JLTV, the Marine Corps is seeking to upgrade a portion of its aged High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) fleet. Up-armoring HMMWVs in recent conflicts has diminished key vehicle capabilities, including off-road performance, ride quality and reliability.
Oshkosh Defense has developed modular and scalable HMMWV upgrade solutions that provide varying levels of capabilities at a range of price points. The upgrades can be provided individually or as more complete solutions for upgrading all critical vehicle systems. Oshkosh’s comprehensive, cost-effective approach addresses requirements for engine and powertrain, suspension, driveline, hubs and brakes, frame and hull, electrical, cooling, and auxiliary automotive improvements to meet the Marine Corps needs.
For example, Oshkosh has tailored its industry-leading TAK-4 independent suspension system to deliver higher levels of mobility, including a 70% off-road profile capability, improved ride quality and a 40% increase in the vehicle’s maximum speed. The TAK-4 system also gives the HMMWV greater whole-vehicle durability, a restored 2,500-pound payload capacity and a restored ground clearance of 17 inches. Oshkosh also can deliver a modern engine option that’s more powerful than the HMMWV’s stock engine and provides increased fuel efficiency.
Oshkosh Defense leadership will be available to discuss the company’s vehicles, technologies and IPS services at Modern Day Marine at booth #2404.
