The Marines have reaffirmed their commitment to the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) despite an increase in costs that may result from the Army’s decision to terminate their participation in the program. The joint program office for the Army and Marine Corps originally selected Oshkosh Defense to manufacture the JLTV in August 2015. A follow-on contract was awarded to AM General in 2023, according to a Congressional Research Services report released on a Monday.
Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith stated on May 14 during a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, “The Marine Corps is fully committed to the JLTV program. It is our workhorse on the ground tactical vehicle fleet.” Smith noted that the implications of the Army’s withdrawal were still being evaluated, but indicated that unit costs would likely rise due to reduced orders.
The JLTV was designed to replace the light tactical vehicle fleets of both the Marine Corps and Army, historically comprising primarily of Humvees. The initial production contract with Oshkosh Defense was worth $6.7 billion for 16,901 vehicles. Subsequent contracts, including an $8 billion agreement with AM General, aimed to produce an additional 30,000 JLTVs and 10,000 trailers.
Gen. Smith expressed concerns that the Army’s departure and its impact on overall costs could hinder the Marine Corps’ ability to meet its ground tactical vehicle mobility goals. The JLTV supports critical systems like the ROGUE-Fires and Marine Air Defense Integration System (MADIS). The ROGUE-Fires utilizes a cab-less JLTV to launch missiles, while the MADIS counters drone threats from the vehicle.
AM General, responding to the Army’s decision to withdraw, confirmed that they have a backlog for vehicle deliveries extending through 2027 and remain committed to fulfilling contractual duties. The vehicles can be transported by various aircraft types, including rotary wing.
In contrast, the Army plans to meet mobility needs going forward not by acquiring additional JLTVs but by utilizing the Infantry Squad Vehicle, which is a smaller all-terrain vehicle. According to an Army Transformation Initiative memo from May 1, the service intends to phase out the JLTV over time, having already procured 20,000 units. The Army began fielding JLTVs in 2019, coinciding with the Marine Corps’s initial deliveries.
Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., expressed her disappointment regarding the Army’s communication shortcomings with the Marine Corps surrounding the divestiture decision, emphasizing the need for collaborative joint decision-making.
During a May 14 press briefing in Tennessee, Army Vice Chief Gen. James Mingus confirmed that the Army would stop future procurements of JLTVs for its forces, mentioning that they had already acquired sufficient vehicles. However, he stated that the Marine Corps and foreign military partners could continue to purchase additional units.
