India Signs Up For Joint Light Tactical Vehicle

[NSG_Blackcats]

India Signs Up For Joint Light Tactical Vehicle​

In a surprise announcement, Joint Light Tactical Vehicle officials said India has signed a letter of intent to participate in the next phase of the program. Kevin Fahey, program executive officer for ground combat systems, told reporters about the Indian agreement Tuesday at the annual conference of the Association of the US Army.

That means India joins Australia as a basic partner in the program, giving them lower costs in the EMD portion of the program if they stick with it. Canada, Israel and Britain had all expressed interest in the program and are receiving data about its performance but they have committed so far to their own national programs.

In addition to India signing up with JLTV, the U.S. is sending 17 Stryker vehicles and related forces to India later this month for two weeks of exercises, Lt. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, Army Pacific Commander told reporters here at AUSA. These truly joint operations will see Indian troops fighting from Strykers and enable to two sides to refine tactics, techniques and procedures, Mixon said.

Meanwhile, Marine Lt. Col. Ben Garza, the Marines program manager for JLTV, said the program has weight under control, regardless of other reports to the contrary. He said the smallest version, Category A, weighs in at an average of 10,600 pounds; Category B comes in 15,000 pounds; Category C weighs in at an average of 14,500 pounds.

“That’s meeting the Marine Corps requirement for transportability,” said Bill Taylor, the Marines PEO for land systems. I asked the three JLTV officials if the fractious debate about the future of Army modernization was imperiling their program, especially given the Marines earlier concerns about weight and their warm reception for M-ATVs in Afghanistan.

“I think there is room for both programs. In fact, I think there is a need for both programs,” Taylor said. M-ATV and JLTV share 320 requirements, he noted, but JLTV has an additional 580 requirements above and beyond M-ATV for such things as internal and external power sources and ISR plug and play capabilities.

Link

 

[bengalraider]

my 2 cents

The only way this can be good for India is if we get to develop and build our own JLTV's inside India based on the U.S prototypes, otherwise we could end up just paying a lot of cash for a glorified jeep that M&M could probably develop and sell for half the american price.

 

[StealthSniper]

Don't really like this idea that's going on. We have competent companies like TATA and Mahindra that are trying hard to meet the army's requirement for light tactical vehicles, and I think India is shutting them down with going with an American system. India needs to devote more time and effort in it's own systems, because we maybe behind in our systems but I like what TATA and Mahindra and other companies in India are doing right now.


Only way this is good for India is only if they get alot of good technology out of it and if they can incorporate the technology they learn into indigenous systems.

 

[dineshchaturvedi]

I think it will be a mix of both, this is the way we have to proceed. We are not in a position where we can do everything on own. We can buy some and gain some expertise.

 

[ant80]

Dude, this looks like a Warthog!!! :twizt:

 

[bhramos]

we have one better idea, as India is patnering JLTV.
give chance to Pvt companies rather then Govt companies.
like TATA or M&M, these can absorb Tech and use this on their own projects in Future.

 

[A.V.]

some other pics of the same

 

[Vladimir79]

Uh... why can't India make their own armoured patrol car? If India is trying to become independent of foreign suppliers, this is two steps backward.

 

[p2prada]

Uh... why can't India make their own armoured patrol car? If India is trying to become independent of foreign suppliers, this is two steps backward.

There are 2 already designed in India.

Mahindra Axe

Mahindra Axe is reportedly being exported to the Israeli Army. A hard top version is also being developed. The vehicle was designed using an Israeli and Indian team.

Mahindra Marksman

Mahindra Marksman has already been chosen by our elite National Security guards.

IA is interested in Mahindra Axe and perhaps they are waiting for the hard top version. As to why IA is interested in the American setup, maybe because IA wants to learn new stuff. Perhaps similar to IAF interest in the PAKFA when an Indian MCA is also in development.

 

[Vladimir79]

And what technologies are you hoping to grab? We all know why IAF wants PAK FA. But here you already make marketable vehicles.

 

[p2prada]

And what technologies are you hoping to grab? We all know why IAF wants PAK FA. But here you already make marketable vehicles.

Well, it is just a possibility. India always has the option of leaving the American deal too.

Maybe we are taking a look at the armor design. Perhaps the best bet is the engine. The Indian Govt will also score some brownie points in relations with the west. Perhaps, India hopes to earn something out of this deal through royalties or licenses by exporting this to Latin American and other countries.

Perhaps the IA is not too happy with the Mahindra Axe. Perhaps sending a message across to the Indian corporation that IA has other options if their demands are not met; in the spirit of competition.

An important point about Mahindra Axe. The engine is not being produced locally. It is being sourced from Israel.

 

[gogbot]

No No NO
the JLTV is meant ot create armored vehicles not jeeps like the AXE

The AXE may still be used
But as far as Armoured scout and trsport goes it will be wilth the JLTV vehicles

 

[AJSINGH]

all i want is GOI should not pay price of ferrari for mercedes

 

[Atul]

The Snaps look great.

But the face remains, US is not a reliable supplier (barring Israel & NATO countries). we have seen what Problems Pakistan faced on the F-16 Supplies.

There should no problem in incorporating new technologies in the present setup, but the art of learning & implementing the same must be nurtured ( i infact admire the Chinese for - they just replicate anything they buy. But Feel sorry for then for the quality or performance is a secondary criteria for their replicas).

Anything bought should come with a TOT. (no matter from which country in comes).

More in-depth involvement from the private sector should be appreciated ( TATA, Mahindra, Ashok Leyland, and many others should be involved in further development)

 

[AkhandBharat]

Its lame to buy JLTV when Mahindra has designed similar capsule based Marksman. The technology is already with us. As far as engine is concerned, Mahindra can always JV with Tata Motors to develop the engine in house.

Moreover, armored transport vehicles' main aim is to deflect small arms and grenades, which is why the hull design is so important. Engine is secondary.

I hope India has signed the letter of intent to check how the JLTV compares to the marksman. If it can't allow local manufacturers to go ahead with light transport vehicles, then how will the private defence industry develop in India? Not all of them will start manufacturing F-22's right away.

 

[roma]

Purchasing agents in Indian defence industry

But the face remains, US is not a reliable supplier (barring Israel & NATO countries). we have seen what Problems Pakistan faced on the F-16 Supplies.

should take note of the above ( a partial quote )

 

[Known_Unknown]

Everyone seems to have missed the 1000 pound gorilla in the room-corruption. Is it unthinkable that the ministry approved this JV after the Americans deposited a couple hundred thousand dollars into a minister's Swiss bank account?

It doesn't make sense to enter into a joint venture to produce armoured Jeeps. What's next? Joint venture on developing bullets for Indian rifles?

In India, you can buy anything and anyone if you pay the right price.

 

[AkhandBharat]

Nobody missed the 1000 lb gorilla in the room. Everyone tacitly assumed that everyone else knows it considering they are Indians and know quite well how the bureaucratic machine works in India.

 

[xebex]

Here we go....

 

[Vladimir79]

For all those who still think this is a good thing, I think this should kill those thoughts...

The Army estimates that each JLTV will cost $418,000, almost 70% higher than the target cost of $250,000 per vehicle that would have enabled the Army to replace all of its HMMWV’s with JLTVs. The Army’s current JLTV requirement is 140,709 vehicles, and at the estimated $418,000 per vehicle cost, the Army may be required to reduce total JLTV acquisition quantities, scale back JLTV capabilities

http://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RS22942.pdf