General Dynamics said in a statement last week that its General Tactical Vehicles division had presented its plan for undertaking the Technology Development phase of the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps Joint Light Tactical Vehicle project.

General Dynamics said the GTV proposal was designed to produce maximum survivability combined with the greatest power and payload. The company said its proposal emphasized interoperability and interchangeability of systems and components while employing modular armor. It said its proposed JLTV would be both original in design and fast moving, while offering greater safety for its operators and more space to carry cargo loads, while being easier to transport to different locations.

"Our JLTV provides America's Soldiers and Marines a vehicle with the strong performance, flexibility, protection and sustainability they need across the full range of missions, locations and operational scenarios," said Don Howe, GTV's JLTV program director. "Our JLTV gives the armed forces the rapid deployability, reliability, networking capabilities and survivability they need today and in the decades ahead."

General Tactical Vehicles said it had used existing technologies and combined them with a modular design that would allow the vehicles to be continually upgraded with improved armor protection and more advanced vehicle systems.

"While it's a significant advancement in design, it's also affordable and practical," said Howe. "Combined with manufacturing readiness that allows an accelerated path to production, our design will make the JLTV program a smart, low-risk investment for America's armed forces and taxpayers."