Slovakia To Purchase 192 Oshkosh JLTVs From The US
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) stated that the US Department of State has approved a potential foreign military sale of 192 M1278A1/A2 Heavy Gun Carriers Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV) and related equipment to the Government of Slovakia. According to the agency, on May 9, 2023, the necessary certification and related documents notifying the US Congress of this sale were submitted on May 9, 2023.
The sale in question, with an estimated value of $250 million (DSCA-reported estimated costs indicate maximum, contract values are generally lower), with the exception of 192 Oshkosh-built M1278A1/A2 Heavy Gun Carrier Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), includes M153 Common Remote Weapons Stations (CROWS) with Display and Control Panels (DCPs), M2 Quick-Change Barrels (QCB), 50-caliber machine guns, MK19 40mm grenade launchers, M2A1 machine guns, detectors, sensors, the supply of spare parts, maintenance, logistics and other relevant elements of program support.
Regarding the sale, for which Oshkosh Corporation and Oshkosh Defense will be prime contractors, the Pentagon Defense Security and Cooperation Agency (DSCA) stated, “The proposed sale will improve Slovakia’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing the Slovak Land Forces with vehicles to support increased mobility and enhanced protection for ground units. The JLTV procurement would also enable divestiture of Russian-produced equipment, as JLTVs would replace Soviet-era personnel carriers. Procurement of the JLTV would represent a major milestone in Slovakia’s goal of developing a capable, twenty-first century military which can meet its national defense needs and effectively contribute to NATO operations. Slovakia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.”
The M1278A1 Heavy Gun Carriers (HGC), which will replace Slovakia’s Soviet-era personnel carriers that are nearing the end of their service life, are a variation of the Oshkosh Defense’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). The vehicle, which is mainly armed with a 12.7mm M2 Browning machine gun or a Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) mounted with a Mk19 40mm automatic grenade launcher, can be outfitted with advanced non-kinetic weapon systems (such as lasers) for defense against anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and swarm UAV threats, depending on user requirements. The HGC variant of the JLTV, which weighs around 10 tons, can be transported by a variety of lift assets, including rotary-wing aircraft, to support a wide range of military operations. Its maneuverability enables activities throughout a wide range of terrain, including urban areas, while also providing inherent and supplemental armor against direct fire and improvised explosive device threats. The vehicle, which is powered by a turbocharged 6.6-liter V8 diesel engine with 350 horsepower, is capable of reaching a top speed of 110 km/h on asphalt and can travel up to 480 kilometers without refueling.
The acquisition of JLTVs by Slovakia is part of the country’s efforts to modernize its military in order to contribute effectively to NATO operations, excluding the disposal of Russian-made equipment. In this context, last year Slovakia decided to purchase 152 CV90 Mk IV infantry fighting vehicles manufactured by BAE Systems and 76 8×8 armored combat vehicles from Patria.