Pentagon Picks 3 Contenders to Replace the Humvee

For years the U.S. Army has been trying to build a replacement for the Humvees that have been hauling around gear and troops since the early 1980s. But the process has gotten continually bogged down in delays and cost overruns; the government nearly quashed the entire effort before the Army and Marine Corps cut down how much it would cost.

With the program saved, on Friday the Army announced the three finalists for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). The Oshkosh Corporation, Lockheed Martin (seen above), and AM General (which makes the Humvee) received contracts good for a combined $185 million to spend the next 27 months competing to be the final vehicle chosen. The U.S. Army intends to buy at least 20,000 JLTVs, Army Times reports, from among the four variants that the winning contractor will have to build. The Marines would buy another 5000 or more.

Of course, there's still time for the Pentagon to change course and choose the Popular Mechanics Light Tactical Vehicle, the result of our attempt to cook up the ideal military jeep.

Above: AM General prototype JLTV.

Above: Oshkosh prototype JLTV.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/how-to/blog/pentagon-picks-3-contenders-to-replace-the-humvee-12118952?src=rss

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