"Today's brute force approach to survivability is based on adding more armor," said Louis DeSantis, vice president and general manager of Ground Vehicle Systems at Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - Owego. "Our holistic approach to JLTV survivability sees armor as a last resort. Long before a threat hits a vehicle, our JLTV will rely on net-centric situational awareness to avoid and communicate threats."

The Lockheed Martin vehicle benefits warfighters with features including superior mobility; weapons and countermeasures to neutralize threats; and a new armor composition combined with an innovative hull and structural design for protection if an attack cannot be avoided, said DeSantis.

The JLTV program will provide the services with a family of expeditionary vehicles capable of on- and off-road mobility that also provide increased levels of protection for the warfighter while remaining fully transportable. As a system, the sensors and communications suite aboard the JLTV will tap into the military's global communications network, enabling forces to coordinate operations by sharing up-to-the-minute battlefield information.

Lockheed Martin also proposed a fast-mounting powered third axle for the JLTV utility variant. The third axle would add another 5,000 pounds to the vehicle's 5,000-pound general cargo payload capacity. Two people with a portable hoist can attach the third axle to the utility vehicle in just a few hours, said DeSantis.

The services are expected to award a 27-month-long Technology Development contract to two or three JLTV competitors this summer. Competitors will be required to supply multiple vehicle variants and assorted equipment that will undergo durability and performance testing.

The Technology Development phase will be followed by a Systems Design and Development phase in 2010 and, later, by a production contract. The services plan to order as many as 50,000 vehicles during the initial production phrase.

The Lockheed Martin JLTV team has built two fully operational prototypes in two categories to date - a Category B Combat Tactical Vehicle that has already completed 5,000 test miles on and off road, and a Category C light payload utility vehicle. Both vehicles will complete 25,000 combined test miles by the end of this year.

The Lockheed Martin-led JLTV Team includes:

- BAE Systems Mobility and Protection 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 serves as the prime contractor and design agent, providing systems engineering, platform integration, design expertise and program management.

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