By Ann Roosevelt
Australia plans to participate in the Technology Demonstration phase of the United State’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program, while other nations are discussing participation, according to officials.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Wolfgang Petermann, PM JLTV-Army, told Defense Daily: “The Joint Services have entered into initial discussions with Australia, the United Kingdom, and other NATO and non-NATO countries per guidance from the Defense Acquisition Executive (DAE). Discussions are still in progress.”
Separately, an Army source said, “The Joint Services are seeking international involvement in the process because as we prepare for future coalition operations, having similar tactical vehicle solutions across allied nations will enhance global interoperability, while simultaneously reducing maintenance and logistical burdens.”
Additional partners in the program could bring an enormous financial boost to the already projected $40 billion U.S. project.
Australian Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon said, “Through the JLTV Program, Australia and the U.S. will be devoting considerable resources to developing a light mobility vehicle with the best possible protection for our troops on operations.”
The United States Oct. 29 awarded 27-month technology development contracts to three separate industry teams in the potential $40 billion project (See separate story). The JLTV is expected to replace more than 60,000 vehicles in the Army, Marine Corps and U.S. Special Operations Command as of 2012 and beyond.
Opening the 10th Land Warfare Conference in Brisbane the same day, Fitzgibbon announced First Pass approval for Phase 4 of the LAND 121 (Overlander) project to replace some of the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) 4200 Land Rovers, a vehicle produced by the Land Rover unit of Ford [F] with a fleet of protected light mobility vehicles. These vehicles will perform a number of important combat support roles, including command, liaison and light battlefield resupply.
A final decision on whether Australia will acquire the JLTV will be made once the vehicles have passed key development and testing milestones, likely to be met in 2010, Fitzgibbon said. To support the decision, at the same time the project will also engage with industry to explore other options to provide protected light mobility vehicles.
“Should the JLTV be selected, it is anticipated that there will be opportunities for Australian industry in the manufacturing of associated vehicle trailers and ongoing maintenance support for our fleet,” Fitzgibbon said.
LAND 121 Phase 4, with Phases 3 and 5, will replace the ADF’s field vehicle and trailer fleet. The project will deliver several thousand Protected Mobility Vehicles-Light (PMV- L) vehicles, modules and trailers over the next decade, the project office web site said. It is expected that the PMV-L system will consist of four vehicle types, one–the utility vehicle–will have three modes of employment. The vehicles will be acquired with matched trailers and three module types that will be fitted to the utility variant: a Cargo Module; a Line Laying Module; and a Canine Module.
Phase 5, at the pre-First Pass approval stage, will provide the ADF with commercial-off-the-shelf vehicles to serve in the raise, train and sustain functions. Approval for this phase is expected in the last quarter of 2009.
Previously, replacement programs were based on a fleet-by-fleet basis. LAND 121 draws together into a single project the entire ADF Field Vehicles, Modules and Trailer requirements.