United States Army released a final version for the Joint Light Tactical JLTV program 1512141.

"Today's release is an important step as this successful, on-budget program moves forward on schedule, and it is the result of tremendous work and diligence across our team," Army Col. John Cavedo, the JLTV project manager, said in a statement. "The JLTV program remains on track to deliver an affordable, protected mobility solution that fills today's critical capability gap with substantial advances in the balance of payload, performance, and protection."

After a Milestone C decision and award of a firm-fixed-price contract to a single vendor near the end of fiscal 2015, the award period will cover three years of low rate initial production and five years of full rate production, for a total of 17,000 vehicles for the Army and Marine Corps.

A production award is expected in late fiscal 2015 for approximately 50,000 JLTVs for the Army and another 5,500 for the Marine Corps. The first Army unit is expected to be equipped in fiscal 2018; The Marines anticipate an initial operating capability in fiscal 2018 with its fielding complete in fiscal 2022.

Army procurement will last until approximately 2040 and replace a significant portion of the Army's legacy light tactical vehicle fleet with 49,099 new vehicles across four configurations: general purpose, heavy gun carrier, close combat weapons carrier and a utility vehicle.

Billed as filling the gap between legacy Humvees and the larger, less mobile Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle fleet, the JLTV is intended to restore light tactical mobility.