Joint Light Tactical Vehicle

The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program is a joint initiative between the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps, with the Army serving as the lead service. The primary goal of the JLTV program is to modernize the light tactical vehicle fleet by replacing legacy High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV) and associated light tactical trailers. The JLTV Family of Vehicles (FoV) is designed to provide protected, sustained, and networked mobility for personnel and payloads across a wide range of military operations.

The program supports Force Design modernization efforts and aims to maximize commonality, fuel efficiency, and reliability, thereby reducing total ownership costs.

For FY 2026, the JLTV budget line requests funding primarily to support procurement of JLTV companion trailers, mission kits, and vehicle and trailer Total Package Fielding. This includes travel and labor for teams conducting concurrent fielding events at Marine Corps bases worldwide. Funding is also allocated for First Destination Transportation, vehicle/trailer storage, Performance Verification Testing, System Technical Support, Contractor Systems Engineering Program Management, Engineering Change Orders, and retrofits based on testing and user feedback.

The FY 2026 request covers post-production verification testing of the JLTV A2 family, which features a new engine and systems to address engine obsolescence and ensure fleet safety and reliability.

The JLTV A2 Production Verification Testing is a critical objective for FY 2026. This testing is limited reliability and performance testing conducted annually to verify consistent design and manufacturing quality. It also includes testing related to Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs) to evaluate the successful integration of changes and provide data for decision-makers. These efforts ensure that the JLTV fleet maintains operational effectiveness, reliability, and safety in alignment with evolving mission requirements and user feedback.

The JLTV Mission Kits component encompasses over 75 different options tailored to specific vehicle variants and mission requirements. Kits include armor for force protection, tactical communications kits for net-ready capabilities, and operational kits to enhance vehicle functionality. Kits are procured based on vehicle density (quantity and variant mix) and schedule-based requirements, with the latter being fixed-cost and not tied to vehicle quantities. Scheduled kits are estimated and procured outside the production line based on unique Marine Corps needs, ensuring flexibility and mission-specific capability enhancements.

The JLTV Trailers procurement supports the modernization of light tactical trailers, with funding allocated for both Oshkosh Defense and AM General LLC contracts. FY 2026 funding reflects a reduction in trailer procurement quantities due to contract delays and a backlog in vehicle deliveries. The methodology for trailer unit cost has been updated to reflect new contract range pricing, and AM General trailer costs are based on actual contract pricing. The conclusion of First Article Testing (FAT) for the JLTV trailer and transition to post-production verification testing are key objectives for the year.

Support costs under the JLTV program include Interim Contractor Support (ICS), program management, contractor systems engineering and program management (SEPM), system technical support, test support, publications/technical data, fielding, and training aids. ICS provides supplemental maintenance support to unit organic sustainment capabilities, while program management covers acquisition, logistics, safety, and fielding efforts. System technical support ensures engineering, configuration management, quality assurance, and integrated product support for government-initiated changes and improvements. Test support funding in FY 2026 is reduced due to the planned conclusion of trailer FAT and a shift to post-production verification testing.