AM General to deliver first JLTV A2 armored vehicles for US Army testing to validate 250 functional upgrades.

As reported by National Defense, the first Joint Light Tactical Vehicle A2 (JLTV A2) produced by AM General will be delivered for testing this week, the company confirmed on April 29, 2025, at the Modern Day Marine conference in Washington, D.C. Six vehicles will initially remain at AM General’s facility in South Bend, Indiana, for inspection and limited mileage, before being combined with thirteen more for a total of nineteen vehicles scheduled for eighteen months of U.S. Army testing.
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The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle A2 (JLTV A2), produced by AM General, includes over 250 engineering modifications compared to the A1 version, which was manufactured by Oshkosh. (Picture source: AM General)

Testing is expected to take place at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland and Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. This milestone follows AM General’s February 2023 selection over Oshkosh Defense in the JLTV recompete program, which transitioned the production of the U.S. military’s light tactical vehicle fleet to a new manufacturer under a contract worth $8.66 billion.

The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program originated following operational experiences during the Iraq War, where the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) proved vulnerable to improvised explosive devices. Up-armoring the HMMWV provided limited side protection but introduced weight-related limitations on mobility, payload, and maintenance. To compensate, the U.S. rapidly procured around 29,000 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, which improved blast protection but created challenges related to mobility, transportability, and sustainment. The JLTV program was initiated in 2006 to integrate lessons from both platforms, with requirements for reduced weight, helicopter and amphibious transportability, improved off-road mobility, and both side and underbody protection.

The Department of Defense approved the JLTV program’s Concept Refinement phase in 2006, followed by a Technology Development phase and Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase. Multiple companies submitted vehicle prototypes, including AM General, Lockheed Martin, and General Tactical Vehicles. In August 2015, Oshkosh Defense was selected to produce the JLTV A1 after a final testing phase involving 22 prototypes per vendor. The Army and Marine Corps procured more than 20,000 JLTV A1s between 2016 and 2023, with long-term requirements totaling approximately 64,000 units across all U.S. military services.

Variants produced under the A1 designation include the M1278 Heavy Guns Carrier, M1279 Utility, M1280 General Purpose, and M1281 Close Combat Weapons Carrier. JLTV A1 units were also exported through Foreign Military Sales and direct commercial sales to multiple partners, including Lithuania, Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia, Belgium, Brazil, Israel, and others.

In early 2023, AM General was awarded the follow-on production contract following a recompete intended to reduce long-term acquisition costs. Oshkosh Defense submitted a protest that was denied by the Government Accountability Office in June 2023. AM General then constructed a 96-acre manufacturing facility in Indiana specifically for JLTV production. Initial delivery, originally scheduled for the third quarter of 2024, was delayed by approximately six months due to start-up challenges, including bid protest delays, supply chain sourcing, tooling, part qualification, and manufacturing readiness assessments.

Under the awarded contract, AM General is authorized to deliver up to 20,682 JLTV A2 vehicles and 9,883 JLTV trailers, with production expected to reach up to 15 vehicles per day once full-rate production begins. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Full-rate production is expected to begin in summer 2026, with up to 15 vehicles produced per day. Under the awarded contract, AM General is authorized to deliver up to 20,682 JLTV A2s and 9,883 JLTV trailers, while the cost of a single JLTV is currently estimated between $370,000 and $399,000. The company is also tasked with sustaining both A2 and legacy A1 vehicles, and may retrofit A1 units, depending on cost-benefit assessments by the U.S. government.

The JLTV A2 includes over 250 engineering modifications compared to the A1 version. It is powered by the MY 2024 L5P Duramax 6.6-liter turbo diesel engine, developed by DMAX, a General Motors subsidiary. This engine delivers 470 horsepower and 975 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with the Allison 2500SP six-speed automatic transmission and a Gen 6 Transmission Control Module. The new configuration provides an estimated 15 percent improvement in fuel efficiency. The vehicle retains a 4×4 independent suspension system with adjustable ride height and is compatible with CH-47, CH-53, fixed-wing aircraft, and amphibious transport deployment. Revisions to the front-end accessory drive were implemented to increase belt service life.

The vehicle’s electrical architecture has been updated. A single 24-volt lithium-ion battery replaces the A1’s dual lead-acid batteries, reducing weight and enabling future hybridization. A smart power distribution unit manages onboard electrical loads, while an upgraded alternator supports lithium-ion integration. Fuel and airline systems, along with electrical harnesses, have been rerouted to improve maintainability. Interior and exterior noise levels have been reduced through targeted structural modifications. The Modular Base Integration Kit increases usable internal cargo volume, and the interior has been reconfigured to improve accessibility for maintenance and operator use.

Enhanced corrosion protection has been added following Marine Corps requirements. Coating systems applied to mission-critical components exceeded the 30-year resistance standard in government qualification tests. The JLTV A2 was publicly exhibited for the first time at IDEX 2025 in Abu Dhabi, where it was fitted with the Hornet Air Guard Remote Controlled Weapon System (RCWS). This version includes a drone detection ring and uses airburst ammunition for counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) operations. Additional variants include the General Purpose, Utility, Heavy Guns Carrier, Close Combat Weapons Carrier, and JLTV-T trailer. The Utility variant was exhibited at Eurosatory 2024 and is equipped with the deFNder Medium RCWS from FN Herstal. AM General has reported engagement with six countries undergoing the Foreign Military Sales process for the A2 variant.