QUANTICO, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), successfully demonstrated its Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) prototypes at an event hosted by the U.S. JLTV Joint Program Office in Quantico, VA. During the demonstration, the Oshkosh JLTV prototypes completed the military’s severe off-road track (SORT) without fail, allowing military and congressional leaders to observe and experience a new generation of light vehicle mobility and protection.
“Experience has taught us that the very nature of warfare has changed – and the JLTV program is addressing the fact that our troops need a light, protected vehicle that can perform on any number of future battlefields with unpredictable conditions and threats,” said John Bryant, senior vice president of Defense Programs for Oshkosh Defense. “The military SORT simulated difficult conditions and allowed Oshkosh to demonstrate our vehicle’s exceptional power and agility while maneuvering steep inclines, hairpin turns and rugged terrain.”
As a participant in the JLTV Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) phase, Oshkosh has completed manufacturing of its 22 JLTV prototypes – which were built on an active manufacturing line by a highly-skilled Oshkosh workforce using Lean processes and a proven quality management system. The Oshkosh JLTV prototypes, which will be delivered to the government in August, include both the 4-door multi-purpose variant and the 2-door utility variant.
“The entire Oshkosh team – from engineering to supply chain to manufacturing – is absolutely committed to the JLTV program. It was amazing to see the first JLTV prototype make its way down a warm assembly line, start right up and drive off the line – as if we’ve been making them for years,” said Bryant. “Our truck’s performance at the JLTV demonstration reflects a deep commitment to our troops and a true understanding of the critical role this vehicle will play in protecting them.”
About the Oshkosh JLTV Solution
The Oshkosh JLTV solution, named the Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle (L-ATV), delivers the latest automotive technologies and an advanced crew protection system to achieve JLTV performance at an affordable price. The Oshkosh L-ATV meets or exceeds the current JLTV requirements – with room for future growth.
Advanced Protection: The L-ATV offers MRAP levels of protection built on an advanced, multi-faceted crew protection system capable of dispersing IED blasts while protecting the troops inside. Based on extensive in-theater MRAP experience, L-ATV was designed to accept multiple armor configurations, which allows the vehicle to adapt easily to changing operational requirements.
Extreme Off-Road Mobility: The L-ATV offers a proprietary Oshkosh TAK-4i™ intelligent independent-suspension system to allow the vehicle to operate off-road at greater speeds, which can be critical to troops’ safety. The TAK-4i suspension provides 25 percent more independent wheel travel than other vehicles currently fielded with the military. While traversing challenging terrain, TAK-4i absorbs the shock and vibrations while the crew capsule remains steady – providing troops a smoother ride and less travel fatigue.
Speed and Performance: The L-ATV performs exceptionally well on steep inclines, deep desert sand and rugged terrain because of its state-of-the-art TAK-4i intelligent independent suspension system and digitally-controlled Duramax engine with exceptional power-to-weight ratio and torque.
Quality and Value: The JLTV team at Oshkosh employed a formal, multi-generation new product development process including a manufacturing readiness phase that has fully prepared Oshkosh to move into low rate initial production today. The Oshkosh L-ATV has undergone extensive testing to deliver a mature, reliable vehicle platform that is designed to optimize total lifecycle costs.
More information about the Oshkosh JLTV solution, L-ATV, is available at: http://www.oshkoshdefense.com/jltv. Photography and video is available upon request.
About Oshkosh Defense
Oshkosh Defense is a leading provider of tactical wheeled vehicles and life cycle sustainment services. For more than 90 years, Oshkosh has been mobilizing military and security forces around the globe by offering a full portfolio of heavy, medium, light and highly protected military vehicles to support our customers’ missions. In addition, Oshkosh offers advanced technologies and vehicle components such as TAK-4® independent suspension systems, TerraMax™ unmanned ground vehicle solutions, Command Zone™ integrated control and diagnostics system, and ProPulse® diesel electric and on-board vehicle power solutions, to provide our customers with a technical edge as they fulfill their missions. Every Oshkosh vehicle is backed by a team of defense industry experts and complete range of sustainment and training services to optimize fleet readiness and performance.
To learn more about Oshkosh Defense, please visit us at www.oshkoshdefense.com.
About Oshkosh Corporation
Oshkosh Corporation is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty access equipment, commercial, fire & emergency and military vehicles and vehicle bodies. Oshkosh Corporation manufactures, distributes and services products under the brands of Oshkosh®, JLG®, Pierce®, McNeilus®, Jerr-Dan®, Frontline™, CON-E-CO®, London® and IMT®. Oshkosh products are valued worldwide in businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount. For more information, log on to www.oshkoshcorporation.com.
®, TM All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that the Company believes to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital expenditures, debt levels and cash flows, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “project” or “plan” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the cyclical nature of the Company’s access equipment, commercial and fire & emergency markets, especially in the current environment where there are conflicting signs regarding the global economic outlook and the ability of the U.S. government to resolve budgetary and debt issues; the expected level and timing of the DoD procurement of products and services and funding thereof; risks related to reductions in government expenditures in light of U.S. defense budget pressures, sequestration and an uncertain DoD tactical wheeled vehicle strategy, including the Company’s ability to successfully manage the cost reductions required as a result of the significant projected decrease in sales levels in the defense segment; the Company’s ability to comply with laws and regulations applicable to U.S. government contractors; the Company’s ability to increase prices to raise margins or offset higher input costs; increasing commodity and other raw material costs, particularly in a sustained economic recovery; risks related to facilities consolidation and alignment, including the amounts of related costs and charges and that anticipated cost savings may not be achieved; the duration of the ongoing global economic weakness, which could lead to additional impairment charges related to many of the Company’s intangible assets and/or a slower recovery in the Company’s cyclical businesses than Company or equity market expectations; risks related to the collectability of receivables, particularly for those businesses with exposure to construction markets; the cost of any warranty campaigns related to the Company’s products; risks related to production or shipment delays arising from quality or production issues; risks associated with international operations and sales, including foreign currency fluctuations and compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; and risks related to the Company’s ability to successfully execute on its strategic road map and meet its long-term financial goals. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update information contained in this press release. Investors should be aware that the Company may not update such information until the Company’s next quarterly earnings conference call, if at all.
