Lockheed Martin’s [LMT] prototype next-generation Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV) have been driven thousands of miles, braked hard, blown up, and slung below a helicopter during a Technology Development (TD) phase, and what was learned is being incorporated into plans for the next phase–Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD).
“After close to a year testing prototype vehicles we’re taking lessons learned from it, and informing EMD,” Kathryn Hasse, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Director of JLTV Programs said in an interview. “The customer was always clear that it was using TD to help inform requirements, and the requirements were modified as the work moved along, and not just from what happened to the prototype vehicles, but also what happened in theater, she said.
JLTV is a multi-service initiative for a family of future light tactical vehicles expected to have better performance, payload and protection than current vehicles, and replace and rebalance some of the aging Humvee fleet.
In May, the Army completed performance and Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) testing and completes ballistic testing this month, said Ashley John, Strategic Communications for Program Executive Office Combat Support and Combat Service Support, said.
The government tested prototypes from teams led by Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, and General Tactical Vehicles, a team comprised of General Dynamics [GD] and AM General.
However, due to the increased survivability requirement, “we are currently in the process of conducting above threshold ballistic testing to help inform the EMD phase requirements,” John said.
While the Army conducted the JLTV’s first helicopter sling load transportation test with a CH-47D Chinook helicopter with three Category A-General Purpose Vehicles, additional transport testing is planned through June to include Helicopter sling loading with the Marine’s CH-53E helicopter, John said.
JLTV Milestone B is scheduled for the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2012. The EMD phase will be full and open competition, with the selection of two offerors. Full and open completion means any U.S. and foreign firm can compete and /or team for the EMD phase.
The program is under the microscope in Congress, where the House Appropriations Committee (HAC) has been considering development funds d the balance of the Light Tactical Vehicles, and where JLTV fits in. The committee report said “the operational niche to be filled by the JLTV appears to be shrinking,” and recommends the Defense Department consider what can be done to advance Humvees, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and MRAP ATV’s.
The HAC recommended a $25 million reduction to the fiscal year 2012 $172 million for Army Research Development Test and Evaluation (RDT&E), and a $25 million reduction to the Marines $$39.9 million JLTV effort.
Instead, HAC recommends an increase of $50 million in Army RDT&E for Humvee survivability improvements. The committee knows about the potential of blast venting technology such as the “blast chimney.” Thus, the committee report said, “These improvements could lead to a HMMWV with survivability equal to or better than the MRAP; weigh considerably less than predicted for the JLTV and at a cost significantly less than either.”
Prototype JLTV work at Lockheed Martin has led to vehicles being driven more than 15,000 RAM miles, one more than 20,000 RAM miles, Haas said. “It highlighted the maturity of our design and we’re on the curve we need…reliability, availability and maintainability.”
As part of the company emphasis on the program, a separate company funded effort is going on to optimize the JLTV design for “affordability, take the weight out and to ensure we can produce in volume,” Haas said.
The internal company structure is organized by integrated product teams. Thus, if a design change has been worked up, before it’s implemented it must be approved by the program manager, chief engineer, production lead, and cost lead, she said. “Every decision impacts multiple areas we’re trying to work,” so the disciplined process is in place to determine what each change does to weight, cost, and the ability to produce.
“From our view, this is the most effective and efficient way to address these challenges,” Haas said. For example, the services need a helicopter transportable JLTV, a base vehicle that is affordable and to do that requires the balancing of a number of pretty significant variables.”
Lockheed Martin also has worked to preserve some of its technical discriminators, she said. For instance there is a lot of focus on affordable initiatives such as getting rid of exotic materials in favor of more traditional materials, such as considering the more traditional steel instead of other materials.
One JLTV prototype is still at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., where the company is funding some tire testing. “It’s an investment Lockheed Martin is willing to make,” she said.
“We’ve worked very hard to maintain the integrity of the technology demonstration design, it is optimized, and the system is at technology readiness level 6,” Haas said. “Everything we do is fully tested at the component level to ensure the vehicle is durable, a good performer and reliable.”
Haas said Lockheed Martin is ready to write a winning EMD proposal when the Request for Proposals comes out.
Working with the government has given them some insights and areas where the company can prepare. For example, the company has known for well over a year that the blast requirements are likely to go to a B level, which they have been working toward, and successfully. “We’ll know in a few weeks, with a high degree of confidence that a higher level of blast has absolutely minimum impact.
Requirements are changing for EMD. For example, there were three payload categories for TD. For EMD, there will be two primary variants and sub variants, she said. The company has a couple of vehicles used to test component changes for design improvements and to demonstrate for the government that the EMD design remains at a technology level of 6 or better. The biggest challenge is to keep reducing curb weight, which is driven by the lift capability of the helicopter.
“The key is to get the base vehicle right,” Haas said.