TACTICAL WHEELED VEHICLES
Comments (2)
The US Army (or USMC) should purchase the 6x6 M-ATV MRAP Oshkosh JLTV as a Drone Swarm launcher, C5ISR, expanded ambulance, 15 soldier infantry APC, cargo, field repair vehicle, generator, laser truck, Anti-UAV jammer truck, Drone controller, and specialized mission vehicle.
I say this because the Chinese PLA has a similar 6x6 MRAP design that carries a box tube launcher of forty Drone Swarm UAVs over the two rear axles---the US Do has no counter and no similar truck. There are just some mission requirements that need a 6x6 M-ATV, and the 6x6 M-ATV can fit a 13 Marine squad in one armored vehicle.
The problem with the US Army is that it's taking a tactical weapons and cargo truck and trying to make it into a versatile truck for C4ISR and all sorts of weapons and other duties. There are no sub-offices created to attach Air-Defense Avenger turrets, SPIKE box launchers, 30mm RWS, Active-Protection systems, shelter carriers, etc. Each has to be an independent PEO, so now the US Army just focuses on the truck chassis and mechanics itself when the add-ons are an afterthought. Thus, the JLTV (FMTV, HEMTT, etc.) are just seen a logistics vehicles without the tactical additions, ambulatory, shelter modifications, protective equipment, or combat-proven mission requirements that the soldiers need. More add-ons means more work for the Tactical Truck team with no extra hired workers. That needs to change if the US Army wants to bring more combat and logistics capability into the field besides using the same PEO team...the Army management team needs more workers.
Prototypes exists of other more capable JLTV and FMTV variants, but the management pyramid is so narrow that it affects mission and National Security if one PEO gets to decide and delegate. Thus, more flexibility and a horizontal management structure is needed instead of the pointy pyramid of command. If the tactical truck management team were to branch out horizontally with more hired people, then I think the needs of the soldiers and DoD can be better met and fulfilled and the requirements to truck industry better communicated. Right now, it's like too many people are harping on the one PEO Director and Team to make decisions that add on more work for PEO Truck Type when it should be several PEO Directors branching out from the basic truck chassis to make other truck variants.
There are times when the Army does a good job of communicating what it needs, but the the Military Industrial Complex manufactures something that looks good, but cannot function in harsh austere environment for extended periods of time in a reliable manner. This is a disservice to our service men and women who DEPEND on this equipment to get them into, and out of combat. The JLTV is an excellent example of RELIABILITY being a primary quality resident in a piece of combat equipment, and they will make a great replacement for the Hummer.
Curtis Conway at 1:00 PM