Boeing [BA] and Textron Marine & Land Systems [TXT] are partnering to compete in the technology demonstration and system development phases and ultimately the production phase of the Army and Marine Corps’ Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program, the companies said yesterday.
The two companies will partner to provide program management and technical and lifecycle management approaches to all phases of the JLTV program, according to a statement from Boeing.
Boeing will bring its experience in the design and integration of complex hardware development programs as well as its capabilities in systems engineering and integration, modeling and simulation, supply chain management and lean manufacturing in meeting all of the customers’ tactical wheeled vehicle fleet requirements, the company said.
“Boeing’s program management best practices and systems integration expertise coupled with Textron’s extensive knowledge base and world class reputation as a premier tactical wheeled vehicle manufacturer will afford our military customers with a ‘best of industry’ solution,” said Jayne Schnaars, director of Business Development, Boeing Combat Systems. “Together, we are committed to working closely with the customer to fully understand their requirements and develop a robust solution that will dramatically enhance fleet readiness, maintainability and survivability.”
Textron Marine & Land Systems brings its capabilities in the field of combat vehicle design, development and manufacturing, including “our basic platforms for the M1117 Armored Security Vehicle and the related variants we call our family of ASVs, the JLTV and other similar vehicles for future use by the U.S. military,” Tom Walmsley, senior vice president and general manager of Textron Marine & Land Systems, said.
JLTV is expected to provide the Army and Marine Corps with a family of vehicles with improved survivability and greater payloads than AM General‘s Humvee. It will consist of five mission role variants: combat tactical, command and control, utility, light infantry squad carrier, and reconnaissance. The vehicle family will also include compatible trailers.
The design will include a basic armor protection package as well as provisions to accommodate an additional add-on armor kit. JLTV will be networked enabled, provide power for all on-board electronic components with the engine on and during extended silent watch, and export power to outside systems (Defense Daily, Sept. 6, 2006).
The services have yet to publish requirements for JLTV, and earlier this month, the effort was delayed as both the Army and Navy have been told by the Pentagon’s acquisition chief the program needs more work (Defense Daily, Oct. 9).
AM General and General Dynamics [GD] have also partnered on a JLTV effort. Lockheed Martin [LMT] and BAE SYSTEMS have also teamed in the competition.