A significant milestone in U.S. military ground mobility is underway this week as AM General prepares to deliver the first batch of its Joint Light Tactical Vehicle A2 (JLTV A2) for testing. Confirmed on April 29 during the Modern Day Marine conference in Washington, D.C., the company revealed that the initial vehicles are now ready to begin evaluation under U.S. Army supervision—marking a pivotal step in a program designed to reshape the future of tactical transport for American and allied forces.
Testing will take place at two of the U.S. Army’s premier facilities: Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland and Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. The evaluation phase is expected to span 18 months and will include a total of 19 JLTV A2s—six of which will remain at AM General’s South Bend facility for inspection and limited mileage before integration with the broader testing fleet.
This marks a critical moment following AM General’s February 2023 win in the JLTV recompete program, a victory that awarded the company a contract worth $8.66 billion and shifted the reins from previous manufacturer Oshkosh Defense. The decision reshaped the future of the U.S. military’s light tactical vehicle fleet and ignited a new chapter in the vehicle’s evolution.
The JLTV program has its roots in battlefield necessity. During the height of the Iraq War, the U.S. military’s reliance on the aging High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) exposed severe vulnerabilities. While the HMMWV had long been a workhorse for the military, it was never designed to withstand the deadly IED threats that became prevalent during the conflict.
The rushed addition of armor to the HMMWV offered only partial solutions, adding weight that compromised the vehicle’s mobility and increased mechanical strain. In response, the Pentagon fielded thousands of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. While MRAPs provided much-needed blast protection, they brought their own drawbacks: they were large, difficult to transport, and struggled in off-road environments.
Recognizing the need for a more versatile and survivable tactical vehicle, the Department of Defense launched the JLTV program in 2006. The goal: develop a next-generation vehicle that combined the protection of an MRAP with the mobility of a HMMWV. Key requirements included improved side and underbody protection, reduced weight, off-road agility, helicopter and amphibious transportability, and long-term sustainability.
The JLTV program advanced through a structured acquisition process beginning with a Concept Refinement phase and followed by Technology Development and Engineering & Manufacturing Development. A number of firms entered the competition, including AM General, Lockheed Martin, and General Tactical Vehicles.
After rigorous evaluation and prototype testing—including 22 units per vendor—Oshkosh Defense was awarded the production contract in August 2015 for the JLTV A1. The Army and Marine Corps procured over 20,000 JLTV A1 units between 2016 and 2023, with an eventual goal of around 64,000 vehicles across all branches.
The A1 variant lineup:
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M1278 Heavy Guns Carrier
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M1279 Utility
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M1280 General Purpose
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M1281 Close Combat Weapons Carrier
These vehicles were deployed widely and gained popularity abroad as well. Countries such as Belgium, Brazil, Lithuania, Slovenia, Romania, and Israel acquired them through Foreign Military Sales and commercial agreements.
In early 2023, the U.S. Department of Defense sought to lower acquisition costs and initiated a recompete for the next phase of JLTV production. AM General ultimately secured the contract, beating out incumbent Oshkosh Defense. The latter’s protest to the Government Accountability Office was denied in June 2023, clearing the path for AM General to take over production responsibilities.
To meet the contract’s demands, AM General constructed a 96-acre manufacturing facility in Mishawaka, Indiana, dedicated solely to JLTV production. Originally scheduled for first delivery in Q3 2024, initial output was delayed by six months due to challenges common in such large-scale transitions: bid protests, supply chain coordination, tooling and part qualification, and manufacturing readiness.
Full-rate production is now expected to begin by summer 2026, with a capacity of up to 15 vehicles per day. The contract allows for delivery of:
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20,682 JLTV A2 units
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9,883 JLTV-T trailers
Each vehicle currently carries an estimated cost between $370,000 and $399,000. AM General will also support sustainment of legacy JLTV A1s and may retrofit those units based on government assessments.
The JLTV A2 reflects more than 250 engineering changes from the A1 model. It is powered by the MY 2024 L5P Duramax 6.6-liter turbo diesel engine, delivering 470 horsepower and 975 lb-ft of torque. Built by DMAX, a General Motors subsidiary, the engine is mated to the Allison 2500SP six-speed automatic transmission and uses a Gen 6 Transmission Control Module.
Fuel efficiency has improved by 15 percent, thanks to optimizations across the drivetrain. The independent suspension system with adjustable ride height remains, offering off-road agility and air/sea transport compatibility via CH-47 and CH-53 helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and amphibious platforms.
Key updates include:
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New 24-volt lithium-ion battery replacing dual lead-acid batteries—reducing weight and enabling future hybrid systems.
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Smart power distribution unit for improved load management.
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Upgraded alternator optimized for lithium-ion integration.
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Improved electrical harness layout for maintainability.
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Redesigned fuel and airline systems for durability.
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Interior reconfiguration to enhance maintenance and crew ergonomics.
Corrosion resistance has also been significantly enhanced. The vehicle’s coating systems were tested to a 30-year durability benchmark, meeting stringent Marine Corps requirements.
At IDEX 2025 in Abu Dhabi, AM General publicly unveiled the JLTV A2 for the first time. The featured configuration included the Hornet Air Guard Remote Controlled Weapon System (RCWS), outfitted with a drone detection suite and airburst ammunition designed for counter-UAS operations.
The company also showcased the Utility variant with FN Herstal’s deFNder Medium RCWS at Eurosatory 2024. Other confirmed configurations include the:
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General Purpose
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Utility
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Heavy Guns Carrier
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Close Combat Weapons Carrier
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JLTV-T Trailer
AM General reports active engagement with at least six countries in discussions through the Foreign Military Sales process for the JLTV A2.
The JLTV A2’s entrance into testing signifies more than a vehicle upgrade—it reflects a long-term shift in how the U.S. military addresses mobility, protection, and modularity in ground operations. Lessons learned from two decades of asymmetric warfare have been baked into the A2’s design: it is lighter, smarter, more efficient, and easier to maintain.
For a military preparing for near-peer conflicts where mobility, survivability, and multi-domain coordination will be paramount, the JLTV A2 is more than just a replacement—it’s a leap forward. The vehicle is designed with future upgrades in mind, including electronic warfare kits, hybrid propulsion, and integrated C-UAS capabilities.
Moreover, AM General’s commitment to rapid scale-up and international engagement positions the JLTV A2 not only as a staple of U.S. ground forces but as a key component of partner nation interoperability.
As testing gets underway at Aberdeen and Yuma, the eyes of the defense community are watching closely. Over the next 18 months, the JLTV A2 will be subjected to the U.S. Army’s rigorous performance, durability, and operational assessments. Success here will pave the way for full-rate production, global deployment, and potentially decades of service.
From the deserts of Arizona to the proving fields of Maryland, the next generation of tactical mobility is about to be put to the test—both literally and strategically.
