Oshkosh showcases its L-ATV vehicle for the first time in Europe at DSEI 2013..

“The ability to operate on a battlefield with a wide range of threats and terrain is increasingly critical for forces around the globe,” said John Urias, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president of Oshkosh Defense. “The L-ATV was specifically designed to fulfil that mission. The platform offers unprecedented levels of protection and off-road mobility to navigate even the harshest environments.”

The L-ATV’s superior mobility is largely attributable to the Oshkosh TAK-4i intelligent independent suspension system. The TAK-4i system expands on the success of the proven TAK-4® system to deliver more than 50 centimetres of independent wheel travel – a 25 per cent increase over currently fielded vehicles. The TAK-4i system enables the L-ATV to shift power to the wheels that are in contact with the ground to provide control and manoeuvrability on dangerous terrain.

The L-ATV offers advanced troop protection against IEDs and other battlefield threats with a scalable armoured capsule optimized for protection, weight and mobility. The capsule’s modular, adaptable design can accept multiple armour configurations, allowing the vehicle to accept future enhancements.

Oshkosh Defense can deliver L-ATV fleets with fully integrated and tested command, control, communications and computer (C4) equipment. This includes factoring the mechanical, electrical and user interfaces into the vehicle design process to optimize overall system performance and the user experience. Oshkosh performs C4 installation in-house, either during the production process or after, to reduce time and costs. Oshkosh integrated C4 systems into the Oshkosh M-ATV, which contributed to the vehicle being designed, produced and delivered at a rate of more than 1,000 per month – all in less than one year.

“We blended the latest design and proven technologies in the L-ATV to create a vehicle with superior performance and reduced sustainment costs,” added Serge Buchakjian, senior vice president and general manager of international programs for Oshkosh Defense. “Our global life-cycle support offerings, from training and parts supply to maintenance support and remanufacturing, help keep vehicle fleets at peak readiness anywhere the mission requires.”