U.S. Army Selects 4 Teams to Supply Prototypes for Common Tactical Truck Program
Logistics is important and while the U.S. Army’s Common Tactical Truck (CTT) program may not be on everyone’s radar it is a key project which aims to replace the Army’s heavy truck fleet. This week it has been announced that four companies: Mack Defense, Navistar Defense, Oshkosh Defense, and American Rheinmetall Vehicles/GM Defense have been awarded contracts for the prototype phase of the CTT program. The program could eventually see production of up to 40,000 trucks valued at up to $14 billion.
Program Executive Office Combat Support & Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS) announced that the prototypes will represent their offerings for the replacement of the M915 Line Haul Tractor and M1088 Medium Tractor; as well as the Palletized Load System (PLS); and Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT). The contract awards to the four companies totals $24.25 million. PEO CS&CSS commanding officer Brig. Gen. Samuel L. Peterson described it as “the Liberty Truck of the 21st century, as it will similarly seek to streamline the Army’s supply, maintenance and training requirements.”
Oshkosh Defense say they have designed six CTT variants, including a Load Handling System (LHS), Off-Road Tractor, Line Haul Tractor, Cargo, Wrecker, and Tanker. As part of the prototype award, Oshkosh Defense will build and deliver three variants to the U.S. Army for test and evaluation. Pat Williams, Chief Programs Officer for Oshkosh Defense, said that “we look forward to partnering with the U.S. Army to refine their CTT desired capabilities and ensure our Soldiers receive the capability they need and deserve.”
American Rheinmetall Vehicles/GM Defense formed a strategic collaboration in 2022 to compete in the program; aiming to deliver a modern, tactical truck that enhances logistic capabilities through advanced technologies including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) for safety, increased off-road mobility, cybersecurity, machine learning, artificial intelligence, improved survivability and fuel efficiency, among other emerging technologies.
The Joint venture submitted the HX3 Common Tactical Truck (HX3-CTT). The companies describe the HX3 as “the latest generation of trucks in the highly successful, combat proven, HX family of trucks which are in service with a number of NATO and U.S. allied nations.” The HX family offers a high degree of commonality to the fleet with commercially available vehicles, which was reportedly a priority for the CTT program. This has the benefit of lowering maintenance and future upgrade costs. Matthew Warnick, Managing Director for American Rheinmetall Vehicles, noted that “our team will deliver a transformational truck that leverages the commercial strenghths of our partners, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles and General Motors, and the commonality of the HX3-CTT design.”
The HX family of trucks has so far been sold to 20 customers globally including the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Austria, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. ARV & GMD say that this creates “common global supply chains, training opportunities, and integrated operations among key allies operating around the world.”
At the time of publication Mack Defense had not yet issued a statement regarding the award but earlier, in October 2022, said they were “optimally positioned with a world-class team of Volvo Group resources and industry leading suppliers to design, develop and deliver the commercially based, low-risk, best value solution for the U.S. Army’s CTT prototype program.” In 2018, Mack Defense won the contract to build the U.S. Army’s M917A3 Heavy Duty Dump Truck.
Finally, Navistar Defense welcome peace their participation in the CTT prototype stage with CEO Ted Wright, saying in a statement: “as an industry leader in Militarized Commercial Off-the-Shelf vehicles, Navistar Defense is strongly positioned to meet the CTT program’s mission goals of combining commerciality, commonality, and capability at the best value for the U.S. taxpayer.” Navistar Defense are set to deliver Load Handling, Line Haul Tractor, and Off-Road Tractor prototype systems. Wright described his company as “uniquely capable of balancing the Army’s force protection, survivability, and mission readiness requirements while leveraging the commercial industry’s rapidly advancing technological capabilities.”
Once delivered the four company’s prototype vehicles will be assessed through a combination of government evaluations and Soldier Touchpoints in order to achieve the Army’s desired characteristics. The characteristics include drive by wire and active safety capabilities, commonality, digitisation and autonomy readiness, good survivability, and optimal sustainment. PEO CS&CSS say delivery of prototypes is expected in 2024 and once the evaluations are completed a decision expected in 2026.
Header image: HX3-CTT (American Rheinmetall/GM Defense)