Photo: AM General
As you're reading this the Annual Meeting and Exposition of the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) is in full swing over in Washington, DC. As usual, everyone who's anyone in the industry is on-site, showcasing the best they have to offer for the American armed forces.
AM General, the original maker of both the civilian Hummer and the military Humvee, is there as well. As you'd expect, the (probably) most famous military vehicle in the world is on the scene as well, including in two new versions, but they are not the focus of our story now. That honor instead falls on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) in a configuration called A2.
The JLTV is, more or less, the replacement for the Humvee, or an evolution of it. Dating back to the mid-2000s, the program saw several companies competing for the right to make the vehicle, and ended with Oshkosh being selected for production back in 2005.
AM General didn't give up on its offering, though, and kept the JLTV it competed with rolling, just in case. After all, even if it's not officially the winner of the competition, that doesn't mean it still can't be used, right?
The A2 version of the truck is the best and most improved version released to date. It comes with the newest kind of Duramax engine, the 6.6-liter L5P, rated in stock form at 445 horsepower and capable of running on diesel and biodiesel. The powerplant rocks an enhanced control module and is tied to an Allison 2500 transmission.
The unit now powers a vehicle with a slightly improved design, but also bettered in the way of noise reduction and corrosion protection – AM General says that by simply using commercially available solutions, the mission-critical hardware can now go corrosion-free for as much as 30 years.
The engine is not the only thing that changed. The electrical architecture of the truck has been upgraded so it now includes smart power distribution, an upgraded alternator, and improved electrical harness.
Most importantly though the system now comes with a lithium-ion battery and all the other prerequisites that could make it easier for the JLTV to "accommodate future hybridization."
Aside from the A2 version of the machine, AM General is also showing a JLTV-T version of the truck. This one is fitted with a trailer that carries a prototype made by Navistar for the Army's Water Bison program.
That's an effort meant to come up with a solution that can ensure one day's worth of potable water for between 110 and 142 soldiers.
AM General makes no mention of how many are interested in the ideas it is showing in Washington, but don't be surprised if we get to see this new military hardware in action soon.
The JLTV is, more or less, the replacement for the Humvee, or an evolution of it. Dating back to the mid-2000s, the program saw several companies competing for the right to make the vehicle, and ended with Oshkosh being selected for production back in 2005.
AM General didn't give up on its offering, though, and kept the JLTV it competed with rolling, just in case. After all, even if it's not officially the winner of the competition, that doesn't mean it still can't be used, right?
The A2 version of the truck is the best and most improved version released to date. It comes with the newest kind of Duramax engine, the 6.6-liter L5P, rated in stock form at 445 horsepower and capable of running on diesel and biodiesel. The powerplant rocks an enhanced control module and is tied to an Allison 2500 transmission.
The unit now powers a vehicle with a slightly improved design, but also bettered in the way of noise reduction and corrosion protection – AM General says that by simply using commercially available solutions, the mission-critical hardware can now go corrosion-free for as much as 30 years.
The engine is not the only thing that changed. The electrical architecture of the truck has been upgraded so it now includes smart power distribution, an upgraded alternator, and improved electrical harness.
Most importantly though the system now comes with a lithium-ion battery and all the other prerequisites that could make it easier for the JLTV to "accommodate future hybridization."
Aside from the A2 version of the machine, AM General is also showing a JLTV-T version of the truck. This one is fitted with a trailer that carries a prototype made by Navistar for the Army's Water Bison program.
That's an effort meant to come up with a solution that can ensure one day's worth of potable water for between 110 and 142 soldiers.
AM General makes no mention of how many are interested in the ideas it is showing in Washington, but don't be surprised if we get to see this new military hardware in action soon.
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