United States Oshkosh Defense
Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV / M1278)
The JLTV (L-ATV) is Oshkosh Defense's protected 4x4 light tactical vehicle replacing much of the HMMWV fleet, with the M1278 Heavy Guns Carrier variant supporting crew-served weapons.
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-04
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Operator data not public
Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 113 km/h |
|---|
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 6.25 m |
|---|---|
| Width Overall width, matters for rail/road transport of vehicles. | 2.5 m |
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 2.59 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 6,350 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 10,206 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 5 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | Gale Banks 866T V8 turbodiesel (Duramax L5P-based) |
|---|---|
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | turbo-diesel |
Specifications compiled from public Oshkosh Defense and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-04.
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AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) KJ-2000 (Mainring) Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Oshkosh Defense Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV / M1278)? +
The Oshkosh Defense Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV / M1278) has a maximum speed of 113 km/h.
How much does the Oshkosh Defense Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV / M1278) weigh? +
The Oshkosh Defense Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV / M1278) has a combat weight of 10,206 kg.
How many crew does the Oshkosh Defense Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV / M1278) require? +
The Oshkosh Defense Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV / M1278) requires a crew of 5.
What engine does the Oshkosh Defense Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV / M1278) use? +
The Oshkosh Defense Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV / M1278) is powered by the Gale Banks 866T V8 turbodiesel (Duramax L5P-based).
