What’s old is new again: the U.S. Marine Corps is harvesting old Humvee parts for the new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), a move the service says will save money and boost the JLTV’s survivability as its fielded to the fleet in 2019.
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Harvested Humvee Parts
In a news release, Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) says its salvaging the Gunner’s Protection Kit (GPK) found on old Humvees and installing them on JLTV. In addition, used MCTAGS will be fitted onto the Corps’ Heavy Guns Carrier JLTV variant. Furthermore, the Close Combat Weapons Carrier variant of the JLTV is getting equipped with the I-TOW (Improved Tube lauched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided) GPK.
Only two JLTV variants are getting the MCTAGS or I-TOW GPK. However, all new JLTVs will get radios, antennas and other comms equipment harvested from old Humvees. Using harvested parts instead of buying new will save the service north of $100 million.
“It’s our responsibility as MCSC to be good stewards of taxpayer money, so if we have equipment that is in good condition, we should go ahead and use it,” said Kevin Marion, a logistics management specialist in Infantry Weapons within MCSC’s Ground Combat Element Systems.
The USMC says the harvesting effort is advantageous to Marines, since they’ll be familiar with the tactics, techniques and procedures associated with operating the equipment.
The Humvees are set to be demilitarized and traded through the Equipment Exchange Program. This program lets MCSC work with commercial vendors who can sell or use the vehicles however they wish.
“The exchange program is no cost to the government, and no money changes hands,” said Andy Rodgers, program manager for Light Tactical Vehicles in PEO Land Systems. “In exchange, the vendor buys equipment we may need like MCTAG covers or ring mounts for the JLTV, and they ship it wherever we need it.”
Fielding The JLTV
When fielding kicks off in 2019, USMC reps will carry out the harvesting plan for units that get them.
“As we field the JLTV, we’ll collect the HMMWV, harvest the parts, install them and then return the new vehicles [to the units],” Rodgers said.
The JLTV, made by Oshkosh Defense, will replace the Humvee, which entered service in the mid-80s. It comes in four variants with payloads ranging from 3,500 to 5,100 pounds of cargo, the service says. It’s capable of going over 70 miles per hour over tough terrain.
The Corps will field the JLTV first in spring 2019 to the Marine Corps School of Infantry-West at Camp Pendleton; School of Infantry-East at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia; and Motor Transport Maintenance Instructional Company at Camp Johnson, North Carolina. Full fielding to operating forces kicks off in the summer of 2019.
The Army is buying 49,000 JLTVs, while the Marine Corps has committed to purchasing 9,091 vehicles.
