Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Engineering and Manufacturing Development Phase (EMD)

The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Engineering and Manufacturing Development Phase (EMD) program, as outlined in Program Element (PE) 0605812A, is a United States Army-led joint initiative with the U.S. Marine Corps. The primary goal of this program is to modernize and enhance the JLTV Family of Vehicles (FoV), including its companion trailer, to deliver protected, sustained, and networked mobility for personnel and payloads across a wide spectrum of military operations. The program is structured to address both current operational requirements and anticipated future threats, ensuring the JLTV fleet remains relevant and effective.

A key objective of the JLTV EMD program is to provide increased protection and performance compared to the legacy tactical vehicle fleet. This includes improvements in survivability, reliability, fuel efficiency, and overall cost-effectiveness. The program emphasizes maximizing commonality of components, maintenance procedures, and training across the vehicle family to reduce total ownership costs and avoid service-specific requirements wherever possible. The JLTV and JLTV-T are required to be fielded as a system, as specified in the Capability Production Document (CPD) last validated in June 2019.

The budget request for FY 2026 is specifically allocated for the development and assessment of emerging technologies to maintain the operational relevancy of the JLTV fleet. Technologies under consideration include signature management, winter tires for improved mobility in extreme environments, platform-based Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (cUAS) capabilities, and enhanced force protection measures. These efforts are informed by lessons learned from current global conflicts and are intended to address both traditional and emerging threats.

The primary project line within this program element for FY 2026 focuses on the evaluation and assessment of current and future engineering efforts. Planned activities include the development of initial prototypes to refine operational requirements and gather early user feedback, which will support future sustainment and operational movement concepts. The program also aims to validate Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs) that can be applied to the current JLTV fleet, ensuring ongoing modernization.

The acquisition strategy for the JLTV program involves a competitive approach to production and modernization. Following Milestone C approval, a fixed-price contract for Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) was awarded in 2015, with subsequent Full Rate Production (FRP) authorized in 2019. In February 2023, a follow-on requirements contract was awarded for the JLTV A2 configuration, which incorporates technical enhancements such as improved noise reduction, storage, power distribution, corrosion protection, and fuel efficiency. These enhancements are based on feedback from Army and Marine Corps personnel.

Other related budget lines include procurement and sustainment funding for the JLTV and JLTV-T, as well as modification-in-service efforts and Marine Corps-specific JLTV activities. These lines support the overall goal of fielding a modern, capable, and cost-effective tactical vehicle fleet across both Army and Marine Corps formations. The program maintains close partnerships with Army and Marine Corps science and technology organizations, as well as industry, to identify and integrate emerging capabilities throughout the vehicle lifecycle.