Army Awards Development Contracts for JLTV

U.S. Army Awards Development Contracts for JLTV (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - October 31, 2008: The Army announced today the awarding of three contracts for technology development on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. Together, the three contracts are worth a combined total of approximately $166 million. They have been awarded to: BAE Systems Land & Armament Systems – Ground Systems Division, Santa Clara, Calif.; General Tactical Vehicles (A Joint Venture of General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc. and AM General, LLC), Sterling Heights, Mich.; and Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego; Owego, N.Y. The JLTV is a joint program between the Army, the Marine Corps and U.S. Special Operations Command, where the Army has been designated as the lead agency. The JTLV family of vehicles will provide the Joint Services with a balance between three key factors: performance, payload and protection, said Col. John Myers, Project Manager for the Army's Joint Combat Support Services.

Industry teams led by BAE Systems, General Dynamics (photo) and Lockheed Martin have been short-listed for the Pentagon’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program.

At the same time, the JLTV must remain transportable and provide expeditionary mobility, said Lt. Col. Wolfgang Petermann, JLTV product manager for the Army, located at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. He explained that the JLTV will replace a portion of the Humvee fleet, but it is not meant to serve as a direct replacement for that vehicle. The technology development phase specified by the contracts will last 27 months, during which time contractors must each develop seven prototype vehicles to represent the three payload categories required by the JLTV program.. Contractors must also develop companion prototype trailers that meet many of the same requirements as the JLTV in terms of mobility, transportability and payload. The three JLTV payload categories include sub-configurations to, among other things, carry infantry, perform reconnaissance, act as command and control vehicles carry heavy guns and serve as an ambulance. During the TD phase, vehicle armor, ballistic hulls, vehicles and trailers will undergo performance and reliability testing, including assessments from joint warfighters, added Lt. Col. Ben Garza, JLTV Program Manager for the Marine Corps located at Quantico, Va. With their prototypes, contractors must demonstrate a "family of vehicles" approach across the three payload categories. The vehicles must share a commonality of components, and demonstrate technical maturity, requirements achievability and integration capabilities. "We are confident that we will successfully achieve JLTV requirements, and we are eagerly looking forward to demonstrating the technical capabilities during the TD phase," Petermann said. While the winners of the contracts will ultimately produce refined prototypes of the JLTV and its companion trailers at the end of the TD phase, Myers said the Army's current intention is to hold another full and open competition for the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase which will allow all interested parties to compete. Right now, the Army, Marine Corps and SOC are refining their respective tactical vehicle strategies, therefore a final planned quantity has not yet been determined, Petermann said. However, for production cost-estimating and other analyses, the request for proposals included a projected production quantity of approximately 60,000 systems to be delivered over an eight-year span. (ends) Pentagon Contract Announcement (Source: US Department of Defense; issued Oct. 29, 2008) -- Lockheed Martin Systems Integration, Owego, N.Y., was awarded Oct. 29, 2008, a $35,942,059 cost plus fixed fee contract. The contract is for Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Family of Vehicles (FoV) Technology Development Phase. Work will be performed in Owego, N.Y., and Sealy, Texas with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2011. Bids were solicited via the Web with seven bids received. Tank & Automotive Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-08-C-0431). -- General Tactical Vehicles, Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded Oct. 29, 2008 a $45,061,720 cost share contract for Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Family of Vehicles (FoV) Technology Development Phase. Work will be performed in Livonia, Mich., Sterling Heights, Mich., Muskegon, Mich., and South Bend, Ind., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2011. Bids were solicited via the Web with seven bids received. Tank & Automotive Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity ((W56HZV-08-C-0430). -- BAE Systems Land & Armaments-Grounds System Division, Santa Clara, Calif., was awarded Oct. 29, 2008 a $40,493,203 cost share contract for Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Family of Vehicles (FoV) Technology Development Phase. Work will be performed in Santa Clara, Calif., Warrenville, Ill., Johnson City, N.Y., and Troy, Mich., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2011. Bids were solicited via the Web with seven bids received. Tank & Automotive Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity ((W56HZV-08-C-0426). (ends) BAE Systems – Navistar Defense Team Selected for Technology Demonstration Phase of Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Program (Source: BAE Systems; issued Oct. 29, 2008) ARLINGTON, Virginia – BAE Systems, through its Ground Systems line of business, and teammate Navistar Defense, LLC have been awarded a $40.5 million contract to participate in a 27-month technology demonstration phase of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program. JLTV is the U.S. multi-service initiative for fielding a family of future light tactical vehicles. The BAE Systems-Navistar team was one of three teams selected for the technology demonstration program. “We have matured our concept through a full year of engineering, prototyping and testing, and incorporated real operational lessons from MRAP. As a result, we believe we have an agile yet highly protected vehicle that is very close to being fielded in the war fight,” said Raj Rajagopal, president of Land & Armaments, Ground Systems. “From the human engineered crew compartment to the advanced ballistic hull, every part of our JLTV prototype was built with the soldier and marine in mind, providing unmatched survivability and mission effectiveness.” During the demonstration phase, the BAE Systems-Navistar team will submit seven prototype vehicles and four trailers for evaluation and testing by the Army. The BAE Systems-Navistar JLTV proposal is named the Valanx. Valanx is a family of v-hulled, blast-resistant vehicles that optimize what's referred to as the "iron triangle" – payload, protection and performance – to meet all requirements of the JLTV program. There are several variations of the Valanx designed to meet scouting, general mobility, infantry carrying, ambulatory and other needs for combat troops. Vehicle models for the various Valanx variations will be designed and fabricated during 2009 and tested in 2010, leading to the selection of two teams for a JLTV system development and demonstration (SDD, Milestone B) in 2011. "We believe the Valanx provides the foundation for a family of vehicles that will offer unmatched strength, protection and support for the Warfighter for decades to come," said Kevin Thomas, director, product creation for Navistar Defense, an affiliate of Navistar International Corporation. "Our team is eager to move forward and continue our partnership with the Joint Services as they determine the best tactical vehicle solution for our men and women in uniform.” The Valanx design incorporates lessons learned from the U.S. Department of Defense's Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle program and features the latest in lightweight, advanced armor and a v-shaped hull design to provide unmatched crew protection. The vehicle will out-perform existing tactical systems by providing exportable power that exceeds JLTV requirements and existing MRAP capabilities. Its modular design maximizes commonality across JLTV variants and enables the seamless integration of future technologies. The team unveiled its first Valanx prototype in February 2008. The BAE Systems Ground Systems-Navistar team builds off the two company’s current leadership in armored and tactical vehicle development and support, which includes the team working together for the benefit of the joint U.S. customer on programs like MRAP. Combined, the BAE Systems Ground Systems-Navistar team maximizes JLTV program value through proven capabilities, lean manufacturing and extensive worldwide logistics support. The team also includes Arvin Meritor to manufacture the lightweight independent suspension and drivetrain solutions for the Valanx. The company is a leading designer and manufacturer of automotive advanced mobility systems and is the largest axle supplier to the U.S. military. The BAE Systems-Navistar team draws on top talent from across the country. Sites participating in the development include: York, Pennsylvania; Ontario, San Diego and Santa Clara, California; Dearborn Heights, Sterling Heights and Troy, Michigan; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Johnson City, New York; Austin, Texas; Nashua, Hew Hampshire; Reston, Virginia; Melrose Park and Warrenville, Illinois; Fort Wayne, Indiana; West Point, Mississippi; Huntsville, Alabama; and Laurinberg and York, South Carolina. BAE Systems is the premier global defense and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With approximately 100,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £15.7 billion (US $31.4 billion) in 2007. Navistar Defense is an affiliate of Navistar International Corporation, a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International brand commercial and military vehicles, MaxxForce brand diesel engines, IC brand school and commercial buses, and Workhorse brand chassis for motor homes and step vans. (ends) General Dynamics and AM General JLTV Team Awarded JLTV TD Contract (Source: General Tactical Vehicles (GTV); issued Oct. 29, 2008) STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. --- General Tactical Vehicles (GTV), a joint venture between General Dynamics Land Systems and AM General, has been awarded a $45 million Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) 27-month Technology Demonstration (TD) contract from the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command. GTV is one of three awardees to receive TD contracts under this program. The GTV JLTV solution will provide the U.S. Army and Marine Corps with a family of more survivable vehicles with greater protection, payload and mobility than the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV). The innovative GTV JLTV design features a robust light-weight hybrid hull, semi- active suspension system, digital cockpit, and over 95 percent common components across the entire JLTV family of vehicles. Key deliverables under the JLTV TD contract include seven vehicles and four trailers representing the three mission role variants (infantry, general purpose, utility) comprising the JLTV Family of Vehicles; designs for each of 10 sub-configurations; and ballistic hulls and sample armor components for government testing. "The GTV solution meets or exceeds the JLTV protection, payload and performance requirements, offering a low-risk, innovative, adaptable family of vehicles and trailers with commonality of components exceeding 95 percent, resulting in speed to production and low life-cycle cost," said Don Howe, GTV senior program director. "The GTV JLTV design ensures capability growth opportunities and planned product improvements and the GTV Team's significant experience with deployed global forces provides a unique and valuable insight to the needs of the warfighter. The GTV Team offers our customer the optimum combination of survivability, innovation, performance, reliability, supportability and affordability," said Howe. "The GTV Team is very appreciative of the confidence that the Army and Marines have shown in our JLTV solution and joint capabilities. GTV offers a full-spectrum combat and tactical platform capable team, with the strength of more than 120 years of combined experience in the design, production and global support of over one million combat and tactical vehicles," Howe said. General Tactical Vehicles is a joint venture between AM General and General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, formed to provide the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps a low-risk, affordable, technically advanced and economically sustainable solution to their Joint Light Tactical Vehicle requirements. General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 85,600 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. Headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, AM General operates manufacturing facilities in Mishawaka, Indiana, and an Engineering and Product Development Center in Livonia, Michigan. The company has more than 3,000 employees, of whom 2,300 work in the South Bend/Mishawaka area. The company also provides spare parts, field service and training support for all its products, and its Engineering and Product Development Center provides integrated logistics support and systems technical support for a variety of military systems in addition to the HMMWV. (ends) Lockheed Martin JLTV Team Awarded $36 Million Contract, Advances to Program's Technology Development Phase (Source: Lockheed Martin; issued Oct. 29, 2008) OWEGO, N.Y. --- The U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps today selected Lockheed Martin as one of three companies to continue development on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program. Lockheed Martin Systems Integration, Owego, NY, which leads the JLTV Team as prime contractor, will receive a $35.9 million contract from the two services for the program's 27-month technology development phase. "We are honored that trust has been placed in Lockheed Martin and our JLTV Team to continue development of this vital program," said Louis DeSantis, vice president and general manager of Ground Vehicle Systems at Lockheed Martin. "We are committed to meeting the demanding program requirements and providing the lowest-risk, most technically innovative vehicle that serves our Soldiers and Marines." The technology development contract will be 27 months in duration. The first 15 months require competitors to develop and deliver seven JLTV variants, four trailers, four blast hulls, and ballistic panels that will be used for testing. The remaining 12 months are scheduled for government testing. The Technology Development phase will then be followed by a Systems Design and Development phase and, later, by a production contract. Lockheed Martin currently has three operational prototypes: the JLTV Category B model, which is designed as an infantry carrier and was unveiled in October 2007; the Utility Vehicle Light Category C model, which is designed with a focus on payload and was introduced in February 2008; and the General Purpose Mobility Category A model, which was unveiled earlier this month at the Association of the United States Army's Annual Meeting and Exhibition. Lockheed Martin is currently in the process of building its fourth JLTV prototype, an additional variant of the Infantry Carrier, and anticipates completing production in November. The Lockheed Martin-led JLTV Team includes: -- BAE Systems Mobility & Protection Systems, providing advanced armor solutions and production facilities for high volume assembly; -- Alcoa Defense, supplying materials experience, design services and aluminum components that give the vehicle its structural strength at reduced weight; and -- JWF - Defense Systems, offering state-of-the-art machining and cost-effective fabrication. Lockheed Martin serves as the prime contractor and design agent, providing systems engineering, platform integration, design expertise, and program and supply chain management. Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.