Frag Out! Magazine

QUICK GLANCE AT OSHKOSH L-ATV First works in Oshkosh on the vehicle that could become the sub- ject of the offer in the JLTV program started in 2006 as a reply to the initial concept stage. Despite the lost tender for the initial development stage (the vehicle was build to- gether with Northrop Grumman and Plasan), the Oshkosh Defense did not withdraw from independent works con- cerning a vehicle that could participate in the future ten- der for the engineering and production stage of the JLTV program. In 2010, the prototype of the LCTV (Light Combat Tactical Vehicle) was revealed and it was a direct predecessor of L-ATV. It is quite peculiar that the properly prepared LCTV prototype successfully participated, in the same year, in a rather surprising marketing and testing undertaking as it was the participation Baja 1000 race on Mexican deserts. Further development of the construction of the LCTV ve- hicle led in 2011 to the creation of the L-ATV and, con- sequently, to the presentation of the vehicle as the JLTV platform by Oshkosh Defence; thus, this was the candi- date for the engineering and production stage of the pro- gram. At this stage, it is impossible to present a detailed design of the L-ATV vehicle – the manufacturer discloses just general information. For instance, the ballistic and an- ti-mine resistance is unknown. It is only known that the vehicles will have integrated armor in not easily accessible construction parts plus replaceable packages of addition- al armor. In the press material of the manufacturer there is some information of a ballistic resistance „that can be compared to a light tank", whatever this may mean. The majority of the specs of the L-ATV has not been published, it has been only based on estimates. It can be assumed that the performance of the vehicle is not worse than the one specified in the revealed tactical and technical con- cepts for the JLTV program. The family of Oshkosh JLTV vehicles consists of two variants: two-seat version used as a transport vehicle (JLTV-UTL) and a four-seat version serving as a multipurpose vehicle (JLTV-CCWC). From the outside L-ATV looks very similar to its older brother – M-ATV, it has, however, a smaller and lighter design (emp- ty weight of L-ATV is about 6.4 t, while the empty M-ATV weights over 11 t). It should not be surprising since the manufacturer admits that the design of L-ATV was largely influenced by the experience from using the M-ATV. It is certain that one of the most important technical solutions in the construction of L-ATV is the specific „trademark" of the military vehicles manufactured by Oshkosh, so the in- dependent suspension that has been developed for years, this time called TAK-4i. The TAK-4i independent suspen- sion, with the suspension travel of 508 mm and capable of adjusting the ground clearance, provides excellent mobility on a difficult terrain, including i.a. moving with a maximum speed that is 70% higher that the one achieved by the M-ATV.L-ATV is powered by a General Motors Duramax V8 6.6-literdiesel engine with an electronic con- trol system and maximum engine power that is still un- known (probably about 225–250 kW or 300HP), working with the Allison automatic transmission. The L-ATV vehi- cle may be equipped with a ProPulse hybrid diesel-electric drive train that significantly reduces fuel consumption, in which the electric engine generates at least 70 kW of pow- er. The vehicle may drive with the maximum speed of 120 km/h on a paved road and its road range is 640 km. L-ATV may overcome vertical obstacles of 0.5 m height, ditches of 0.5 m width, wade through water of 1 m depth and can overcome slopes with inclination level of 60% and traverse on slopes with inclination level of 40%. VEHICLES

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