Navistar Defense to produce trailers for AM General JLTV A2.

Navistar Defense, LLC has been selected by AM General to partner in the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle 2 (JLTV A2) program. The subcontract is to manufacture an estimated 10,000 JLTV trailers over the life of the contract.
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Offering 147 cubic feet of storage space and already coming painted green from the factory, the JLTV-T propels the light tactical vehicle fleet toward Force Design 2030 (Picture source: USMC/Samantha Bates)

Ted Wright, CEO of Navistar Defense: “We look forward to working with our industry partner on this contract. The JLTV trailer subcontract allows us to continue diversifying our business portfolio, support our growth in Mississippi, and expand our growing business”.

“Welcoming Navistar Defense to the JLTV A2 program is a key milestone in our operations,” said John Chadbourne, AM General Executive VP – Chief Business Development Officer. “Their commitment to excellence translates into the quality products they are known for in the industry. Since receiving the JLTV A2 program contract, our main focus is to deliver quality vehicles on time and on target and this includes the equipment needed to ensure our Warfighters can succeed in their missions.”

The JLTV A2 trailer is a multi-purpose platform configured to support general-purpose cargo and tactical generator mobility missions. The trailer is built to operate with the Closed Combat Weapons Carrier, the General Purpose, Heavy Guns Carrier and Utility JLTV variants over the same mission profile of those vehicles. Production will begin in 2024 and will take place at Navistar Defense’s Assembly Plant located in West Point, Mississippi. The period of performance is for five-base years, with the option for an additional five years.

Let us recall that the U.S. Department of Defense on May 24 announced that AM General LLC, South Bend, Indiana, was awarded a $4,653,330,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, trailers, kits and services to support production. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 9, 2028. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity.

The JLTV-Trailer is a multipurpose platform configured to support general-purpose cargo and tactical generator mobility missions. The trailer is built to operate with the Closed Combat Weapons Carrier, the General Purpose, Heavy Guns Carrier and Utility JLTV variants over the same mission profile of those vehicles. The JLTV-T’s independent suspension system enables it to carry more weight and offers improved off-road mobility over the existing fleet of legacy light tactical trailers. In addition, MCSC’s JLTV team made adjustments to the trailer using the feedback they received from the Fleet.

The new JLTV-Trailer comes loaded with features such as a step assist in the rear, air brakes, removable side rails, a 12v electrical hook in the front and a storage compartment (Picture source: USMC/Samantha Bates)

“The new trailer provides significantly increased payload,” said Maj. Elena Vallely, team lead for JLTV Systems, which is part of the Logistics Combat Element Systems portfolio at MCSC. “There will be improved trafficability, improved durability, and improved payload that provides an increased capability in line with light fleet modernization of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle fleet.”

All future trucks and trailers will arrive painted green from the factory instead of the tan that has been present for the past two decades. The return to a green paint scheme helps shift the vehicle fleet from desert warfare to the more tropical environments where concepts and tactics will most likely be employed.

The JLTV-Trailer’s bed provides users with 147 cubic feet of storage space, said JLTV production leader Christopher Lewis. The front of the trailer has a built-in storage compartment to store braces and removable side rails. The trailer also features a step assist built onto the back. The new trailer also features wedge-activated drum air brakes with an anti-locking braking system, along with a hand crank in the forward area to raise and lower the trailer in order to connect to the truck’s towing hitch. The trailer will also have a single axle system with a weight rating of just over 9,000 pounds.

The trailer uses the same type of tires as JLTVs, making it easier to source and replace trailer tires when needed. This built-in sustainability feature leverages the organic supply system used across the JLTV family of vehicle operations. Additionally, the forward area of the trailer is outfitted with a 12-volt electrical connection point, making the trailer compatible with NATO allies in future operations.

Defense News August 2023