Israel to receive a shipment of JLTV armored vehicles from the US.

On March 28, 2024, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced that Israel would receive a new shipment of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV) from Oshkosh Defense. This update came in the context of a visit to the United States by Major General (Res.) Eyal Zamir, Director General of the Ministry of Defense of Israel. During this visit, Major General Zamir, along with Brigadier General (Ret.) Michel Ben Baruch, inspected a logistics center, where they reviewed several military acquisitions, including the JLTVs.
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The JLTV could be seen as a potential replacement for the more than 2,000 Humvees currently in use within the Israeli Army. (Picture source: Israel MoD)

This impending delivery of JLTVs is part of a broader arrangement, detailed in a previous report by Army Recognition on November 16, 2023, which indicated that the United States had increased its military support to Israel following the outbreak of conflict with Hamas militants on October 7, 2023. This support includes a wide array of military equipment, including laser-guided missiles, artillery shells, night-vision devices, and bunker-buster munitions, with the request for 75 JLTVs being a significant component of this package.

The inclusion of JLTVs in the military aid package to Israel will significantly update the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) vehicle fleet, as this vehicle could potentially replace over 2,000 Humvees currently in use. This development is indicative of a trend among military forces worldwide to enhance their mobility and capability through increased procurement of JLTVs. Manufactured by Oshkosh Defense, the JLTV has been ordered by several branches of the US military as well as by nations like Belgium, Brazil, Lithuania, and Romania. As of June 2, 2023, production of the JLTV had reached 20,000 units.

A noteworthy aspect of this Israeli transaction is the potential involvement of Plasan North America (PNA) in manufacturing the armored cabins for the JLTVs. On July 17, 2023, PNA, a subsidiary of the Israeli firm Plasan, was announced as a subcontractor for the JLTV program. Plasan has been associated with the program for seven years, contributing its "kitted hull" concept that offers a pre-assembled, protected vehicle cabin, an innovation that has been beneficial in military contexts such as Afghanistan and Iraq.

Initiated to meet the requirement for a vehicle with better survivability and mission capability than the HMMWV (a vehicle that has been integral to the US military since 1984 and also extensively utilized by the IDF), the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program aims to offer improved protection and mobility, featuring a V-shaped hull to deflect blasts, armor protection, and a suspension system adjustable for different terrains. This program has led to the development of multiple variants to support diverse military roles, such as reconnaissance, command and control, and medical evacuation.

The JLTV features armor that can be configured according to specific requirements, with an A-kit/B-kit setup for protection. Its armament options include a range of light and medium caliber weapons, in addition to the capability to mount automatic grenade launchers (AGLs) or anti-tank guided weapons (ATGWs). The vehicle is powered by a Gale Banks Engineering 866T, 6.6-liter diesel engine that is based on the civilian GM Duramax architecture, and is coupled with an Allison 2500SP six-speed automatic transmission. Using the Oshkosh TAK-4i independent suspension system, the JLTV has an operational range of up to 480 km and can reach a maximum speed of 110 km/h.

Furthermore, this vehicle has been utilized as the basis for several other models, including the eJLTV, a hybrid electric version, and two unmanned vehicles developed for the US Marine Corps, the Long Range Fires Launcher (LRFL) and the NMESIS, to serve as ground-based Tomahawk launchers.