Seven years after the program was first awarded to Oshkosh Corporation, the contract for future production of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle is once again up for grabs. A recompete is being conducted, with the award tentatively scheduled for announcement on December 22. Incumbent Oshkosh has a good chance of winning, since it has delivered thousands of JLTVs on time and well below expected cost. Its vehicles are proving to be highly reliable and versatile, readily adaptable to a range of missions. Not that Oshkosh is content to offer what it is already building. It recently introduced a diesel-electric hybrid dubbed eJLTV that is self-charging, quiet, fuel-efficient and capable of exporting up to 115 kilowatts of power. The Army hasn’t requested such a vehicle in its solicitation, but the fact Oshkosh has one to offer anyway underscores how competition encourages even the most accomplished contractors to innovate. I have written a commentary for Forbes here.
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