US Marines May not Wait for JLTV

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US Marines May not Wait for JLTV
Associated Press | Bettina H. Chavanne | December 16, 2009

The U.S. Marines are in active talks with industry for a lightweight vehicle that may supplant the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), according to Commandant Gen. James Conway.

Conway told reporters at the Pentagon Dec. 15 that the JLTV is not only five years away, but is weighing in at 22,000 pounds, which he believes is too heavy for Marine Corps needs. Spearheaded by the U.S. Army and the Marines, the JLTV is intended as a Humvee replacement.

"Is that the vehicle we need to be buying?" Conway said. "You're at risk if you stay with heavy vehicles." The Marine Corps, Conway said, has been "serving as a second land army" and needs to "shuck the weight" of the many vehicles it has used in Iraq and Afghanistan.

An interim solution is to raise up-armored Humvees higher off the ground and equip them with V-hulls and a protective crew compartment.

"There are manufacturers out there who think they can do it for one-tenth the cost of a (new) vehicle," Conway said. "We want to use our defense dollars wisely."


Article at: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,207599,00.html?wh=wh