US approves sale of 500 JLTV Joint Light Tactical Vehicles to Lithuania.

The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Lithuania of five hundred Joint Light Tactical Vehicles with support for an estimated cost of $170.8 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on August 27, 2019. In the first stage, 200 units will actually be purchased.

U.S. Marines with 3d Marine Regiment and Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) instructors enter JLTV's during a JLTV field training exercise, Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, July 29, 2019. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

The Government of Lithuania has requested to buy five hundred Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, M1278A1 Heavy Guns Carriers. Also included are Baseline Integration Kits; Ballistic Kits Armor; Explosive Formed Protection Kit; Shot Detection Boomerang Kits; Shot Detection, Boomerang III; GPS Stand Alone kits; Network Switch - 8 port; M153 Common Remote Weapon Stations (CROWS); CROWS Baseline v2 Integration Kit; MK-93 Weapons Mounts; M2 QCB .50 CAL Machine Guns; M230 TAC-FLIR Systems; Opaque Armor (windows); Basic Issue Item Kits; Winch Kits; Flat Tow Kits; Run-Flat Kits; Spare Tire Kits; Combat Bumper Kits; Duramax Turbo Engine with Allison 6 speed automatic transmission and 4x4 TAK-4i Independent suspension systems; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated program cost is $170.8 million.

The proposed sale of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) will help improve Lithuania’s light tactical vehicle fleet and enhance the capabilities to meet current and future enemy threats. Lithuania will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.

The principal contractor will be Oshkosh Defense LLC of Oshkosh, WI. There are no known offset agreements associated with this proposed sale. American Company Oshkosh Defense was selected as the winner for the JLTV contract for U.S. armed forces on 25 August 2015. The award includes a base contract and eight option years covering three years of LRIP and five years of FRP. The initial contract award is valued at US$114 million and is for two-year LRIP. LRIP was slated to begin in the first quarter of FY 2016, with Oshkosh commencing delivery of vehicles approximately 10 months after contract award.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Lithuania. However, it is anticipated that engineering and technical support services provided by the U.S. Government and/or the contractor may be required on an interim basis for training and technical assistance.

The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) is a United States military (specifically U.S. Army, USSOCOM, and U.S. Marine Corps) program to part-replace the Humvee[3] with a family of more survivable vehicles with greater payload. The JLTV family now consists of four base vehicle platforms, M1278 Heavy Gun Carrier, M1279 Utility (JLTV-UTL), M1281 Close Combat Weapons Carrier (JLTV-CCWC) and M1280 General Purpose (JLTV-GP).

The layout of the L-ATV is standard for a modern wheeled combat vehicle with the engine at the front, crew and troops in the middle and cargo area at the rear. There are two single doors on each side with one bulletproof window in the upper part. The vehicle is able to accommodate four military personnel. The JLTV is equipped with an advanced crew protection system which offers a protection level similar to that of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.