Lockheed Martin today delivered two right hand operation Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV), and a companion trailer, to the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps and representatives of the Australian Army for Technology Development (TD) phase assessment and testing.

The vehicles, representing two of the JLTV payload category variants, were presented to representatives of the U.S. Department of Defense and the Australian Department of Defence in an acceptance ceremony at teammate BAE Systems' production facility in Sealy, TX.

The two variants included a JLTV Category B Command and Control on the Move and a Category C Utility vehicle, which is designed with a focus on payload. All vehicles feature right hand operation, but are otherwise identical to the U.S. vehicles. The U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps JLTV test team will begin reliability and performance evaluations upon receipt of the vehicles.

"Today's ceremony demonstrates our commitment to provide the Australian Defence Forces with a mature, low-risk family of vehicles, backed by over 70,000 miles of rugged and robust in-house testing," said Steve Ramsey, vice president of Ground Vehicles at Lockheed Martin. "With improved situational awareness, enhanced mission effectiveness and improved survivability, these JLTVs designed for the Australian Defence Forces will provide their testers a glimpse into the future of battlefield mobility."

Mark McCoy, the U.S. Army's product manager for JLTV, highlighted the advantages of international participation in the JLTV program, specifically noting how "participation can help reduce overall program risk through the testing and evaluation of additional vehicles."

"As our military prepares for future coalition operations, similarity of tactical vehicle solutions across allied forces will enhance global interoperability and reduce the maintenance and logistical burden," added McCoy.

The U.S. and Australia entered into a Land Force Capability Modernization Project Arrangement in January 2009 for the TD phase of the JLTV program, enabling tactical vehicle interoperability and integration between U.S. future forces and Australian land forces.

"Recent conflicts have highlighted the importance of protected mobility in the modern battlefield," said Australian Army Lt. Col. Robin Petersen, JLTV Cooperative Program Personnel and Australian JLTV Program Manager. "The requirements of the JLTV program are closely aligned with our requirements; Australia faces similar capability gaps and threats."

Since October 2007, Lockheed Martin-Team JLTV has invested in the design and build of seven test vehicles, representing various configurations of the Service's JLTV Category A, B and C variants.

  The Lockheed Martin-led JLTV Team includes:
  --  BAE Systems, providing advanced armor solutions and production
      facilities for high volume assembly.
  --  Alcoa Defense, supplying materials experience, design services and
      aluminum components that give the vehicle its structural strength at
      reduced weight; and JWF - Defense Systems, offering state-of-the-art
      machining and cost-effective fabrication.
  --  Lockheed Martin, serving as the prime contractor and design agent,
      providing systems engineering, platform integration, design expertise,
      advanced systems, and program and supply chain management.
  --  Should the U.S. and Australia continue their JLTV partnership into the
      EMD phase, Lockheed Martin intends to include the strength of
      Australian industry in the JLTV design for both U.S. and Australian
      vehicles.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin