The U.S. Marine Corps officially accepted its first Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) after years of testing, approval and final construction.
In a series of posts on Twitter on 28 February said the first JLTV is officially in the hands of Marines.
The JLTV is an Army-led light tactical vehicle program. It will partially replace the Army and Marine Corps HMMWV fleet, providing a more survivable vehicle, and closing an existing gap in payload, performance and protection.
The JLTV comes in four variants with payloads ranging from 3,500 to 5,100 pounds of cargo, and can go more than 70 miles per hour as well as traverse over arduous terrain.
The JLTV quickly adjusts to achieve diverse transportability needs – by air (CH-47 and CH-53 helicopters; C-130, C-5, C-17 and A400 Cargo fixed-wing aircraft), land and sea. And it’s ready on arrival, giving troops the reliability and performance needed for harsh battlefield environments.
The HMMWVs will be demilitarized and traded through the Equipment Exchange Program. This program enables the organization to work with commercial vendors who can sell or use the vehicles as they see fit.
According to media reports in recent weeks, the Marine Corps will field its first 55 vehicles to support units at training locations across the country – including the School of Infantry West, School of Infantry East and the Motor Transport Maintenance Instructional Company – by the end of May, Andy Rodgers, Marine Program Manager for Light Tactical Vehicles.
Fielding to the operating forces will begin in the summer of 2019.
In all, the Army plans to purchase 49,000 JLTVs and the Marine Corps will purchase 9,091.
Today, the first JLTV was fielded at the School of Infantry West.
Take a look at what this bad boy can do. pic.twitter.com/aADFsIquE9
— U.S. Marines (@USMC) 28 February 2019
