• JLTV contenders AM General/General Dynamics Land Systems (top), Lockheed Martin/BAE Systems Armor Holdings (centre), and
BAE Systems/Navistar (bottom).
    JLTV contenders AM General/General Dynamics Land Systems (top), Lockheed Martin/BAE Systems Armor Holdings (centre), and BAE Systems/Navistar (bottom).
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US officials continue to weigh up whether the American and Australian requirements for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) are similar enough to warrant continued cooperation on the vehicle after the program's first phase ends next spring (US time), according to a JLTV program official.

With armour testing complete, the JLTV program is looking toward accepting prototypes in April to begin testing, US program officials said last week.

This roughly lines up with comments at the latest Defence committee hearing from Capability Development Group head VADM Matt Tripovich who expects vehicles for testing in August/September this year.

VADM Tripovich and committee members Bob Baldwin and Steve Gibbons engaged in a very circular debate about weight concerns, Australian requirements and timelines that left neither party happy from the look of it.

At the same time, the US Army could release, as soon as this month, a performance specification that will launch the competition for the effort's next phase.

ADM assumes that Robyn Peterson, the Australian LTCOL posted to Detroit for three years as the PM JLTV, will have already advised CDG of this issue.

A decision on future Australian involvement is not due until next year with negotiations ongoing until that time, ADM understands.

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