Oshkosh building Humvee replacement

OSHKOSH, Wis., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Oshkosh Defense is to build the U.S. military's Joint Light Tactical Vehicle that will partially replace the Humvee.

The contract awarded the company by the U.S. Army's Tank-automotive and Armaments Command's Life Cycle Management Command is worth $6.7 billion.

Oshkosh Defense said it expects to build 17,000 of the armored tactical vehicles under the award, which covers both low-rate and full-rate production and sustainment services.

"Following a rigorous, disciplined JLTV competition, the U.S. Army and Marine Corps are giving our nation's warfighters the world's most capable light vehicle -- the Oshkosh JLTV," said Charles L. Szews, Oshkosh Corporation chief executive officer. "Oshkosh is honored to be selected for the JLTV production contract, which builds upon our 90-year history of producing tactical wheeled vehicles for U.S. military operations at home and abroad."

The JLTV will come in two variants -- a two-seat utility platform and a four-seat variant, which has two base vehicle platforms, general purpose and close combat weapons carrier.

"Our JLTV has been extensively tested and is proven to provide the ballistic protection of a light tank, the underbody protection of an MRAP-class vehicle, and the off-road mobility of a Baja racer," said retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John M. Urias, executive vice president of Oshkosh Corporation and president of Oshkosh Defense. "The Oshkosh JLTV allows troops to travel over rugged terrain at speeds 70 percent faster than today's gold standard, which is our Oshkosh M-ATV."