As a development in the eighties of the last century of light utility vehicles, "Hummer" at constant conversion of more and more overwhelmed. Armored thin, low degree of information has to sit on the United States on the battlefield in the global fight against terrorism needs. Compelling, the U.S. military will be looking to mine the anti-ambush (MRAP) vehicles. While the MRAP's armor and be able to meet the required protection level, but because only a contingency for its very difficult with the U.S. Army is about to enter the production phase of validation and "Future Combat System" (FCS) matching, but also the lack of future application of new electronic equipment, for advanced hybrid potential. Thus, the U.S. Army, Special Operations Command and the Marine Corps was the beginning of this century, more than supplier to the United issued a proposal for a hope called "joint light tactical vehicle" (JLTVs) new Designed to provide the concept of family car.
JLTV project
JLTV project is a three categories, dozens of different models of equipment plan, the car group to follow the principle of universal supremacy, and its cabin, chassis and powertrain, such as up to 80% of the parts can be interchangeable .
According to U.S. military planning, JITV car family will be dead weight as well as the type of mission is mainly divided into three main types of variable Model: battlefield sensing type (BA), forces the use of type (FA), and focused logistics-type (FL).
Battlefield-type car-aware load of 1.6 tons, can carry four crew, equipped with various sensors for sensing the battlefield and tactical data links, the U.S. military are the future of Network Centric Warfare in military operations in a variety of information exchange and battlefield situational awareness node and the core.
Forces the use of dead weight-type vehicle according to the nature and mission equipped with armor in between 1.8 ~ 2.0 tons range. Can carry 6 soldiers in armored transport vehicles, must have the armored protection. 6 reconnaissance firepower vehicles, primarily for armored reconnaissance mission, with limited firepower. 4 command and control vehicle, equipped with a large number of command and communications equipment for the operational command and control. Heavy firepower vehicles (four plus a fire hand position), will mainly play the role of fire attack, according to the nature of mission is equipped with GM car or a variety of missile launchers, small-caliber machine guns. 4 close combat vehicles will be equipped with heavy armored protection, according to mission will carry music, direct-type of firearms to carry out a close combat mission. 2 has two sets of generic ambulance stretcher bit.
Focused logistics-type load of 2.3 tons, is mainly responsible for the protection of all kinds accompanied by combat mission. Strengthen the capacity of ambulance-type stretcher 4; accompanied by transport type can be different towing trailers logistics module module.
The U.S. military requires that all the above-mentioned three categories of models must be able to be CH-47, CH-53 and C-130 tactical transport aircraft loading, one of a number of light armored vehicles configured even demanded by the C-130, a transport 2. As a general-purpose vehicles, JLTV will replace the United States armed forces in the "Hummer" vehicles, plans to produce more than 100,000.
JLTV ammunition carrying capacity shall not be less than 2 boxes shells M16 series rifles, one gun linked Box M203 grenade, M249 machine cartridge boxes 4 and 6 boxes MK19 grenade launchers or machine-gun ammunition M60/M240. Vehicles will be equipped with anti-extrusion deformation of the door for crew vehicles were destroyed at a rapid escape from. The entire vehicle must have the vehicle automatic fire extinguishing system must be equipped with a composite body armor, be able to withstand 7.62 mm caliber armor piercing anti-personnel of the car. Equipped with low-voltage safety tires, important parts of vehicles, such as fuel containers, tanks and machine coolant tank was running through small-caliber weapons, the situation remains the rapid exchange of fire out of danger geographical mobility capabilities. JLTV shall have an initial network-centric warfare capabilities, the vehicle shall be equipped with electronic surveillance and diagnostic systems, can fuel the entire vehicle, the engine into the air, cooling, transmission, batteries and engine parts and systems, such as important to monitor.
In the protection, JLTV can under the dangerous level of armor with different settings, is divided into class A and class B enhanced, be able to resist the small mines, artillery shells and RPG rocket fragment attacks. A class armor have to meet NATO STANAG 4569 standard of a protection level, be able to withstand 30 meters in 7.62 mm ammunition to the firing of the whole, 100 m 155 mm high-explosive grenade explosion shock wave and fragmentation. Of mines and roadside explosives protective STANAG 4569 standards to achieve the three levels, namely, class six kilograms of explosives, the next to reach 8 kilograms of explosives class level. B armored class have to meet NATO STANAG 4569 standard level 3 protection, that is, be able to withstand 7.62 ~ 14.5 mm armor piercing shooting, 60 meters in 155-mm high-explosive grenade explosion shock wave and fragmentation. Of mines and roadside explosives protection level to achieve the standard STANAG level 4, that can withstand 10 kilograms of explosives in the vicinity of the explosion class.
Bidding companies and R & D team
At present, there are many companies and R & D team announced its participation in bidding JLTV project, a company and three R & D team introduced a JLTV prototype vehicle, some of which kind of vehicle has successfully passed the initial electromagnetic interference testing, road and cross-country mobility and armor testing testing .
General Tactical Vehicle Company with advanced ground vehicle (AGMV) to participate in the bidding JLTV project. The car is 4 × 4 hybrid electric drive vehicles, the design began in 2005 has now entered the development phase of the performance and durability. The car used General Dynamics Land Systems Division over the past decade at 4 × 4 "shadow" goal directed surveillance and reconnaissance vehicle (RST-V) and 8 × 8 advanced hybrid electric drive (AHED) experiment on board the experience gained , and its general structure and development for the Marines RST-V is similar to the structure, but the form factor than the weight of RST-V large. Vehicle weight of 4.8 tons preparedness, gross vehicle weight of 6.3 ~ 7.3 tons, the largest highway speed of 113 km / h, from stationary to 48 km / h acceleration time of only 5 seconds, the largest travel 644 km, contains the Rapporteur 7 people, by CH-47 and CH-53 helicopter transportation.
Because the car did not intend by the V-22 transport, so do not have the unique RST-V's folding double arm suspension, but at four wheels on the installation of a more conventional double wishbone suspension, and its on have two air-cushion with spring, so that the use of helicopter transportation vehicles or used for other purposes when the vehicle height adjustment easy.Model-based AGMV have 2 person crew, can be configured into five kinds of variable vehicle, including: four tactical vehicles, carrying, including the driver, including five soldiers, equipment, remote-controlled weapon station; command vehicle can carry 5 soldiers; multi-purpose vehicles can be equipped with bunkers; can carry 5 to 7 soldiers reconnaissance vehicles; 6 × 6 tactical cargo carriers.
Northrop Grumman team has now spent 15 million U.S. dollars, are creating three JLTV prototype vehicle. The team has exhibited JTLV B belong to class of multi-purpose vehicles like cars. The car is 7-ton armored vehicles, hybrid electric drive system, can transport troops and ammunition, suitable for mobility in urban environments. The car used by the CAT-C7 engine and Allison transmission comprising a new type of powertrain, suitable for thin and light armored vehicles, the development of proactive systems, the United States to meet the JLTV requirements of the output power. The car-like power of the adoption of innovative technology, its service time will be more than three decades.
Kind of car electronic system provided by Northrop Grumman, the company has created a "blue force tracking system." From the armored car companies and placentia Oshkosh companies in the manufacture of heavier models they have experience, has created a heavy expanded mobile tactical truck and Marine Corps MTVR trucks. Heavy expanded mobility tactical truck is a 19-ton tactical trucks logistical equipment, MTVR truck weight 13 tons.
At present, the car has been successfully tested through armor. In the first round of ballistic and mine testing, armored vehicle designed to meet all the minimum requirements, but also has the highest number of requests. Placentia companies are taking advantage of its advanced composite armor systems to maximize the level of occupant protection and to maintain the weight of vehicles is relatively minimized.
BAE successfully achieved this for tens of billions of dollars involved, the production span of decades-long project, the United Hangxing (Navistar) team comprised of industry, while the latter in the vehicle protection is erudite, but also is the largest Anti-mine anti-ambush vehicles supplier. United team with a wealth of military experience in design and production of light vehicles in the first half of 2008 held at the Fort Lauderdale Association of U.S. Army Equipment Exhibition in winter on the formal launch of the 7.26 tons of weight JLTV prototype vehicle. It uses a modular design approach, a large number of MRAP vehicles to use explosion-proof design idea and some spare parts, for the future hybrid diesel-electric power, the new armor and electronic protection technology interface reserved.
Specific design work from the company's ground-based BAE Systems Division and Hangxing charge, team to the U.S. side for the three JLTV rigid target - dead weight, protection and performance as the core, well-optimized balance of these three.
Up in the Army Equipment Exhibition, JLTV prototype vehicle shape very dynamic area, attracting a large number of eyeballs. Car-like 1.93 meters high, the use of highly adjustable suspension system with all-terrain capacity. V-Body Design calm atmosphere, the side between the use of high and low on both sides of the diamond design, so that whole corner seems clear, there is very strong on vision at impact. BAE and the design team Hangxing serious statistics, studied the U.S. military in Iraq, Afghanistan and so often encountered examples of roadside explosives to carry out a large number of experiments, carefully balanced to protect the vehicle and load, such as target, the design of the JLTV vehicle. It is said that such a V-body side can add diamond to maximize the blast weakened and fragments of the vehicle occupant injuries. Like car windshield and windows are also using a new design, by the trapezoidal transparent high-strength composite materials, such as the former three trapezoidal windshield from Materials with the composition can withstand direct small-caliber weapons. With two independent front headlamps, so that the entire vehicle are disclosed under the military-specific wild off-road vehicles.
BAE also give full play to the initiative in combat vehicle protection technology advantages. And Lockheed Martin launch vehicle compared samples, BAE and Navistar JLTV of possible future also is equipped with a RPG rocket-propelled grenades to destroy an incoming active defense system. According to introduction, the system is a set of precise orientation can canister launchers.
Currently, BAE team's JLTV prototype vehicle power using traditional diesel engines, output power is higher than the military of JLTV requirements and existing MRAP vehicles capabilities. Possible future use of oil, electric or hybrid power on the home of home-cylinder technology Pistons (OPOC) engine, so in the battlefield environment can raise around 50% of fuel efficiency, and enhance the use of normal by about 200% of fuel efficiency . JLTV attach so much importance to the environmental performance of the engine also , at today's high oil prices, even the traditional oil on Anopheles such as life at the U.S. Air Force have had to prepare for the 2011 plane between the full switch to biofuels. Of this can be called "oil tiger", the high demand for general-purpose equipment, vehicles, improve engine efficiency, fuel-efficient performance to highlight the natural has become the top priority.
Lockheed Martin team to the United States-based Lockheed Martin joint development team are from the company with the former Armor Holdings Inc. (now BAE Systems, Inc. acquisition, as its mobility and protection Systems Division), Alcoa defense companies and JWF industrial companies. The R & D team displayed two prototype vehicle: Focused Logistics-type light utility vehicle (UVL) and strength of the use of type-like vehicles. Two types of car-like high of about 1.9 meters (focused logistics like vehicle after removal of stock boxes), are highly adjustable suspension system with all-terrain capacity.
It is reported that Lockheed Martin Corporation as the main kind of car manufacturers responsible for the overall design, platform integration and project management. Alcoa Defense is responsible for the development, production all kinds of cars with high strength aluminum alloy parts, to ensure that the prototype vehicle at the premise of enhanced structural strength to maintain the weight as small as possible. BAE Systems, Tactical and Protective Division is responsible for the JLTV armor solutions. JWF Industries to provide high level of processing and low-cost manufacturing. October 2007, in Washington, organized by the Army Institute of equipment displayed at the Lockheed Martin team on the first team at BAE display their JLTV "type use of force," like cars. But the Lockheed Martin team did not like the BAE team to redesign the entire vehicle appearance, but in the "Hummer" on the basis of improvements. Body design quite satisfactory, is far from BAE team like cars so fashionable and dynamic. The kind of show has been out after various tests and testing, as of April 2008 there have been about 8,000 km of roads and cross-country test, which is expected to end in 2008, will continue in the number of 101,000 meters of the test. In addition to cross-country tests, the Lockheed Martin team was at an early prototype vehicle electromagnetic interference tests at BAE team go ahead. April 2008, Lockheed Martin on the organization of the "use of force-type" car-like electromagnetic interference testing, test results will be JLTV vehicles are the future of network centric warfare capability family a very important target. Test items include: radio antennas, displays, engine and transmission controller and electronic components to ensure that the JLTV be able to adapt to the future of the complex electromagnetic environment.
Protection at vehicle, the Lockheed Martin team did not like the BAE team as General to consider the shape and armored vehicles to meet the design requirements for protecting, but hopes to develop a new type of light armor. The mission being undertaken by BAE mobility and protection division of nervous development, there is no such armor and report test results in detail.
Currently, the Lockheed Martin team like the two power cars are also using traditional diesel engines, output power with the BAE team considerable, were higher than the military JLTV requirements and existing MRAP performance. Also retain the future use of oil, electric hybrid power devices, but about the engine type, power and fuel efficiency has not yet disclosed the details of the capacity.