The U.S. Army says it is poised to conduct open competitions for re-capitalizing Humvees and producing joint light tactical vehicles.

The Army-led program, part of its synergized light tactical vehicles strategy, is planning to accelerate the developmental timeline of the next phase of the JLTV program following two years of the technology development, said Army Col. David Bassett, project manager, tactical vehicles.

"We're in the process of restructuring an acquisition strategy that responds to a shorter timeframe for these vehicles to be able to reduce the cost of the next phase as well as get vehicles out there faster," Bassett said.

"We're going to deliver vehicles into the field sooner and we are working hand-in-hand with our user community to look at ways to drive down the cost of the vehicle."

The TD phase for the JLTV program, completed in May, demonstrated the vehicle's ability to meet a wide range of requirements, including fortified improvised explosive device protections designed to withstand blast attacks, off-road mobility, variable ride height suspension, exportable power and essential command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

The TD phase further illustrated that the JLTV will be a next-generation light vehicle that brings soldiers an unprecedented blend of protection, payload and performance, the Army said.

The competitive prototyping and extensive testing pursued during the TD phase was designed to match technological capability with the vehicle's requirements as well as lower risk for an anticipated production phase.

With its off-road ability, blast-protection and on-board electronics, the JLTV will bring a new set of capabilities to the Army and U.S. Marines. The JLTV is being engineered to maximize personnel protection without compromising mobility and vehicle performance.

"We are now focusing on a vehicle that is 10,000 pounds lighter than an M-ATV and yet we believe will offer as much protection as the original M-ATVs that the Army fielded," Bassett said.

At the same time the Army is preparing for the next phase of the JLTV program, they have also embarked upon a competitive Humvee recap program, called the Modernized Expanded Capability Vehicle. The MECV aims to improve the survivability of the Humvee already in the Army inventory.

The Army said it plans to release a draft request for proposal for MECV this fall, with an award date notionally slated for next spring.

The Army estimates nearly 6,000 Humvees will be recapped as part of the program; with the potential for additional vehicles should the Marine Corps become part of the program.

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