Army-Marine combat vehicle program still faces hur Despite the military’s efforts to significantly pare its costs, an Army-Marine Corps combat truck program might still face the budgetary guillotine, says the Congressional Research Service.
https://www.thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/army/203389-crs-army-marine-combat-vehicle-program-still-faces-hurdles Military officials have raised eyebrows in recent months by revealing that some internal cost projections for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program stood at $800,000 per platform.
Last year, however, top Marine Corps officials — who run a service that has a much smaller annual budget than does the Army — threatened to walk away. The Army agreed to cast aside a number of performance standards, and the cost estimates are up to $550 million per vehicle lower. The Senate voted last year to terminate the program, but it appears the initiative will receive a new life after intense lobbying by Army, Marine and industry officials.
But in a new report, CRS says the program’s cost might again rise. And that could lead Pentagon or White House budget officials — or lawmakers — to kill the program for good.
The services also plan to upgrade existing Humvees and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, which will bring their own lofty price tags, CRS notes. Another issue is whether the JLTV fleet with its reduced specs will be that much more advanced than upgraded Humvees — and if not, whether the Army and Marines should attempt both efforts.
“Another possible issue for consideration is the new lower JLTV per-vehicle cost target might be close to that of recapitalized [Humvees],” according to the report, “bringing into question if it is better and more cost effective to procure 'new' JLTVs versus 'old' recapitalized [Humvees].”
Yet another hurdle for the program will be the ever-present possibility “that requirements might be added in the future, driving up the program cost,” the report stated.
“The Army and Marines have both noted that, despite emphasis on recapitalizing [Humvees] and MRAPs in lieu of developing JLTVs,” CRS stated, “there are limitations concerning the degree to which these vehicles can be upgraded and still be operationally effective.”