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M1278/M1279/M1280/M1281

Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)/

Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle (L-ATV)

M1278 HGC

Specifications

Country of Origin/Used by:	USA
First Produced/Service Dates:	L-ATV = 2006 JLTV = 2016 (1st Delivery)
Manufactured by:	Oshkosh Defense
Crew:	Utility Base Vehicle Platform Variants = 2 Close Combat Weapons Carrier/General Purpose Vehicle Platform Variants = 4
Armament:	(1) M2HB .50 cal Heavy Machine Gun, M240 7.62mm MG, M249 5.56mm MG, Mk 19/Mk 47 40mm Grenade Launcher OR TOW ATGM. Can also accomodate the Common Remotely Operated Weapons System (CROWS) 2.
Engine:	8 Cylinder Turbo-Diesel
Miscellaneous Info:	In October 2008, the United States military initiated the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program; the purpose of which was to select a replacement for a large portion of the US Army's and Marine Corps' fleet of High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV).  The specifications required of the JLTV candidates would result in a vehicle with the mobility of a HMMWV combined with the protection and survivability of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAP). Over the entire life of the selection process, a large number of companies and teams of manufacturers competed for the JLTV contract.  During the last portion of the selection process, three (3) finalists were chosen to compete during the thorough final testing phase.  Those companies and their respective JLTV vehicles were: AM General [Blast Resistant Vehicle- Off Road (BRV-O)], Lockheed-Martin (JLTV) and Oshkosh Defense [Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle (L-ATV)]. In the end, the vehicle selected as the JLTV was the Oshkosh L-ATV. The JLTV was previously offered in two (2) base vehicle platforms: the 2-door Combat Support Vehicle (CSV) and the 4-door Combat Tactical Vehicle (CTV).  Later, a renaming of the platforms was done, also expanding them to three (3).  The base platforms are now the 2-door Utility Vehicle (UTL),  the 4-door General Purpose Vehicle (GP) and the 4-door Close Combat Weapons Carrier (CCWC). The platforms can then be fitted with specific mission packages so as to be able to fulfill many roles and complete many different tasks.  The CSV/UTL mission packages identified are for Prime Mover, Shelter Carrier and Utility Vehicle (M1279).  The CTV/GP mission packages available are for the General Purpose Vehicle (M1280) and Heavy Guns Carrier (M1278). Finally, the CCWC comes in the (not surprisingly) Close Combat Weapons Carrier mission package (M1281). Vehicles issued with official "M" designation by the US Military are indicated in bold font above. As a side note, the JLTV was a late entry contender for another US Military vehicle program: The Light Reconnaissance Vehicle (LRV).  One of the LRV specific requirements was that the vehicle must be able to mount a larger weapon than most contemporary wheeled vehicles of the same size.  In response to that requirement, Oshkosh Defense successfully tested their JLTV mounting a 30mm M230LF "Chain Gun" Cannon. However, as of 2020 it has been reported that the parameters of the LRV had changed and the JLTV was eliminated from consideration.
Data Sheet Available:	Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Sales Brochure (Oshkosh Defense)

Photos

Reference	Source/Provider
M998 HMMWV & JLTV Photo	US Army
M1278 JLTV Heavy Guns Carrier Photos	Oshkosh Defense
M1278 JLTV Heavy Guns Carrier Photos	US Army
M1278 JLTV Heavy Guns Carrier Photo	US Army's JPO-JLTV
M1278 JLTV Heavy Guns Carrier Photos	US Marine Corps
M1278 JLTV HGC & M1279 Utility Vehicle Photos	US Army
M1279 JLTV Utility Vehicle Photos	Oshkosh Defense
M1279 JLTV Utility Vehicle Photos	US Army
M1279 JLTV Utility Vehicle Photo	US Army's Joint Project Office - Joint Light Tactical Vehicles
M1279 JLTV Utility Vehicle Photos	US Marine Corps
M1280 JLTV General Purpose Vehicle Photos	Oshkosh Defense
M1280 JLTV General Purpose Vehicle Photos	US Army
M1280 JLTV General Purpose Vehicle Photos	US Army's JPO-JLTV
M1280 JLTV General Purpose Vehicle Photos	US Marine Corps
M1281 JLTV Close Combat Weapons Carrier Photos	Oshkosh Defense
M1281 JLTV Close Combat Weapons Carrier Photo	US Army's JPO-JLTV
M1281 JLTV Close Combat Weapons Carrier Photo	US Marine Corps
M1281 JLTV Close Combat Weapons (TOW) Carrier Photo	US Army
M1281 JLTV Close Combat Weapons (TOW) Carrier Photos	US Marine Corps
eJLTV Hybrid Electric Vehicle Photos	Oshkosh Defense
JLTV GP with Samson Dual RWS Turret & Trophy LV Active Protection System Photo	Oshkosh Defense
JLTV GP with Javelin Integration Kit (JIK) LW30 Remote Weapon Station Photos	Oshkosh Defense
JLTV HGC with Cockerill CPWS 2.0 Turret Photos (mounting 25mm M242 Bushmaster "Chain Gun" Cannon)	Oshkosh Defense
JLTV - Light Recon Vehicle with 30mm M230LF "Chain Gun" Cannon Photos	Oshkosh Defense
JLTV Shelter Carrier Photo	US Army
JLTV Trailer Photos	US Marine Corps
JLTV Utility Vehicle with Boeing Maneuver Short-Range Air-Defense (M-SHORAD) Launcher Photo	Oshkosh Defense
JLTV Utility Vehicle with Elbit Spear 120mm Soft-Recoil Mortar System Photos	Oshkosh Defense
JLTV Utility Vehicle with Spike NLOS (Non-Line of Sight) Missile Launcher Photos	Oshkosh Defense
JLTV Utility Vehicle with Uvision Hero 120 Precision Loitering Munition System Launcher Photos	Oshkosh Defense
L-ATV Ambulance Photos	Oshkosh Defense
L-ATV C2 (Command & Control) Vehicle Photos	Oshkosh Defense
L-ATV - Combat Support Vehicle Photos	Oshkosh Defense
L-ATV - Combat Tactical Vehicle Photos	Oshkosh Defense
L-ATV - Combat Tactical Vehicle Photo	US Army's JPO-JLTV

References Available

Online

Printed

Reference	Author
"A Humvee for the 21st Century" (November 2022 Issue of Classic Military Vehicle Magazine)	Craig Allen
AM General-The First 50 Years: 1971-2021 (David Doyle Books) Book Review by Christophe Jacquemont	David Doyle
"Reaping the Benefits" (February 2011 Issue of Military Machines International Magazine)	Kuno Gross
Special Forces Land Vehicles: MRAP's, Motorcycles & All-Terrain Vehicles (Amber Books)	Alexander Stillwell

Hobby Modeling

For a Full List of Model Kits and Accessories related to the JLTV, you can check out Scalemates.

Model Photos