AUSA 10: US Army backs GCV and JLTV programmesThe US Army is' fully committed' to both the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) and Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) programmes, officials stated at the AUSA Annual Meeting on 26 October.
https://www.shephard.co.uk/news/landwarfareintl/ausa-10-us-army-backs-gcv-and-jltv-programmes/7570/
According to Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition Logistics and Technology and Director, Acquisition Career Management, Lt Gen William N Phillips, an RfP for the delayed GCV programme is 'imminent'. Sources had suggested it would be released during the AUSA show but nothing has yet been declared.
Reinforcing comments made by the Secretary of the Army, John McHugh and the US Army Chief of Staff, Gen George Casey earlier in the week, Phillips said the first GCV vehicle could be produced within seven years.
'MRAP [mine resistant ambush protected vehicles] was delivered in 12 months followed by M-ATV [MRAP All Terrain Vehicle] in 15 months. We can exercise quickly when the need arises to protect soldiers in combat,' he said.
Referring to the delayed RfP for GCV, Lt Gen Robert P Lennox, Deputy Chief of Staff told the joint briefing that it had been 'too challenging' and had 'put the programme at risk'.
Regarding JLTV, officials reinforced that the army was committed but questioned how many vehicles it should buy over a period of time. 'We are buying lots of medium tactical wheeled vehicles today,' Lennox said. The army published its Tactical Wheeled Vehicle strategy at the show on 25 October.
Finally, officials said they were considering a number of options for the HMMWV Recapitalisation programme stating that force protection and survivability were the 'main issues'.
'Most work is initially being done by depots, including Red River, and then we will consider competition. We are still working through what we think the answers might be,' Lennox concluded.