joint light tactical vehicle
YouTube: Defense News

The U.S. Military Replaced the Humvee With This Off-Roading Juggernaut


Advertisement

The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, or JLTV, is the U.S. military's answer to the aging Humvee. This ultra lightweight alternative is resistant to landmines and offers the same strength at nearly half the weight. Oshkosh Defense has a $6.75 billion contract to supply the military with 17,000 of these bad boys. The JLTV features a GM Duramax 6.6-liter diesel V8 engine and can be fitted with a diesel-electric cross breed.

Just check out this monster in action, and you'll see that it's definitely no joke.

WATCH: JLTV Off-Roading Demonstration

Read More: One of Last WWII Tank Gunners Gets Back in Tank That 'Saved His Life'

Advertisement

You've probably seen some wild off-roading vehicles before, but nothing quite like the JLTV. There are actually four variant of the JLTV: the General Purpose (GP), the Heavy Guns Carrier (HGC), Utility (UTL), and Close Combat Weapons Carrier (CCWC). They all have a slightly different purposes and functions. The UTL "is built to haul cargo or shelters like no light tactical vehicle before it - with speed, power and protected mobility outside the wire," while the HGC is made for "Optimized configuration for efficient weapon system operation. Extreme payload to haul mission cargo. Maximum protection to get personnel to the mission and back."

Every variant is equipped with TAK-4i intelligent independent suspension system, which allows the JLTV "to achieve diverse transportability needs - by air (CH-47 and CH-53 helicopters; C-130, C-5, C-17 and A400 Cargo fixed-wing aircraft), land and sea. And it's ready on arrival, giving troops the reliability and performance needed for harsh battlefield environments."

Anyway, you probably just want to see another video of this beast in action, don't you? Well, ask and you shall receive.

Advertisement

This post was originally published on April 22, 2019.

WATCH: Remembering Burt Reynolds' Classic Performances in 'Cannonball Run' and 'Smokey and the Bandit'