WASHINGTON, D.C. — House appropriators on the defense subcommittee proposed reducing $133 million from the projected $245 million for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) A2 variant in their version of the Defense Appropriations Act. The subcommittee stated that the funds should be reallocated to non-developmental JLTVs and trailers.

The House defense subcommittee wrote that production is more than 20 months behind schedule, resulting in approximately 2,000 vehicles in arrears. In 2023, AM General won the contract for the A2 variant, taking over from previous sole supplier Oshkosh Defense.

AM General is responsible for transitioning the JLTV manufacturing from Oshkosh Defense. John Chadbourne, President and CEO of AM General, stated, "Transitions of major defense production programs from one manufacturer to another are inherently complex." He added, "The JLTV A2 transition proved especially challenging due to the unforeseen condition of the technical baseline we inherited, the engineering effort required to mature the design for production, and supplier transition issues encountered during execution." Chadbourne also said, "The result is not simply another version of the JLTV." He continued, "The JLTV A2 represents the next evolution of America's premier light tactical vehicle." Regarding the improvements, Chadbourne stated, "The improvements to the platform provide Soldiers and Marines with a more capable, more dependable vehicle while reducing lifecycle costs for the Department of Defense." He further noted, "Following an extensive evaluation, Army acquisition professionals determined that AM General offered the best overall value to the government while delivering a more capable next-generation tactical vehicle designed to meet the demands of today's battlefield and tomorrow's threats." AM General intends to reach full-rate production of the JLTV A2 by 2027.

An Army spokesperson confirmed that a second full-rate production decision was not necessary for the JLTV program as it had already achieved full-rate production under Oshkosh Defense. The Marine Corps has issued a request for information to find a potential second supplier for JLTVs, specifically seeking rapidly fieldable commercial off-the-shelf or non-developmental items in the JLTV family and trailers. The House defense subcommittee views pursuing a nondevelopmental, rapidly fieldable source as a prudent step to mitigate program risk and to preserve the Marine Corps' ability to meet its 12,500-vehicle requirement.

Why It Matters

The proposed funding reduction and the Marine Corps' search for an additional supplier indicate concerns within congressional and military leadership regarding the current production status of the JLTV A2. The JLTV program provides light tactical vehicles to the Army and Marine Corps, making timely delivery critical for military readiness. The efforts to identify new suppliers aim to reduce risks associated with potential single-source delays and ensure the military's requirements are met.