Tactical Wheeled Vehicles

The Army last week released a presolicitation notice regarding a contract for upgrades to the family of medium tactical vehicles, although quantities and funding levels remain pending.

The Army is keeping to its schedule for the Ground Mobility Vehicle, which the service touts as a key investment in the push to rebuild readiness and address emerging threats.

The Marine Corps hopes to modify its performance specification for transparent armor over the next three to four months as the service's first wave of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles are in reset at depots across the country.

The Army wants to accelerate the start of a new program to develop a combat tow truck that can haul more than 80 tons -- to replace the current Heavy Equipment Transporter System that can pull 70 tons -- by using fiscal year 2016 funds to kick-start an engineering study that previously was planned to begin in FY-17.

The Marine Corps is looking to modernize the Combat Convoy Simulator it uses for operational deployment training, which includes updating hardware components and a weapon system software refresh, according to the service.

Army officials are expected to hold an industry day in June to help finalize the requirements for an upcoming program to redesign the fleet of medium-sized cargo haulers.

An Army official overseeing the service's organic industrial base says there is sufficient capacity to recapitalize active-duty humvee ambulances in greater numbers, though the plan, proposed by lawmakers recently, is still hypothetical.

Despite schedule delays documented in a recent report to lawmakers, the Army believes the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle will be available for soldiers and Marines years earlier than initially planned.

The Marine Corps does not have any near-term plans to upgrade its humvee fleet but, if needed, the service has developed four concept designs that can be used to purchase kits within one year, according to service officials.