Oshkosh to showcase JLTV at Eurosatory

OSHKOSH, Wis., June 13 (UPI) -- Oshkosh Defense will showcase its next-generation Joint Light Tactival Vehicle this week at the Eurosatory defense expo in Paris, the company announced.

The vehicle is set to replace the U.S. Army and Marine Corps' High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, or Humvee, offering faster speed, greater protection and better off-road mobility, the company said.

It brings a smoother ride with all the protection provided by the Mine Resistant Ambushed Protected, or MRAP, vehicles.

It is based on Oshkosh's Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle and features a powerful drive train and TAK-4i suspension that enables troops to travel off-road at speeds 70 percent faster than today's gold standard, Oshkosh said.

The TAK-4i can be raised and lowered via interior operator controls that better foster transportation over air, sea and land.

It can be moved by everything from C-130, C-5 and C-17 aircraft to Chinook helicopters, the company said. 

The JLTV's coming-out party at Eurosatory follows an exhibition in Jordan last month at the Special Operations Forces Exhibition.

The U.S. Army placed its initial order for 657 of the vehicles, 2,977 installed kits and related support earlier this year in a contract valued at more than $243 million.

Oshkosh was awarded a $6.75 billion contract to build nearly 17,000 of the vehicles in August. Lockheed Martin, which also bid on the contract, initially protested the awarding of the contract to Oshkosh, but withdrew its protest in February.