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u The Lockheed Martin Joint Light Tactical Vehicle leverages the Meritor ProTec high-mobility independent suspension. When delivering troops to battle, safety and security is the No. 1 priority, but a certain level of ride performance is necessary to keep the forces fresh as they encounter warzone dangers. One of the key characteristics that the Army and Marine Corps are looking for in the replacement for the venerable Humvee (derived from the acronym: High Mobility, Multi-Wheeled Vehicle) is an improved suspension. Why? Because they need a suspension system that will elevate the vehicle in areas where bombs may be present and to lower down to ft aboard a ship, all the while ensuring a smooth ride to protect electronic equipment and reduce passenger fatigue. A little background: The Humvee, introduced in 1985, proved vulnerable to roadside bombs in Afghanistan and Iraq, requiring additional armor to withstand explosions. The Pentagon responded by purchasing heavy-duty, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to withstand these blasts. But these much larger trucks are expensive, and too bulky to provide much maneuverability. To replace the Humvee, the Army and Marine Corps require a new vehicle that is strong enough to withstand bomb blasts, short enough to ft inside the hull of a transport ship, light enough to be lifted by a helicopter, and agile enough to navigate the most austere of-road terrain. In 2008, the frst initial technology development contracts for this new truck, dubbed the "Joint Light Tactical Vehicle" (JLTV), were awarded; in 2012, the Defense Department selected three companies to build 22 prototype vehicles: AM General (amgeneral.com), Lockheed Martin (lockheedmartin.com) and Oshkosh Corp. (oshkoshdefense.com). This year, the three competitors delivered their prototypes to the military for testing. The chassis of these rugged vehicles supports the armored protection, powertrain and complex communications systems these vehicles must carry. The services require the JLTV to weigh no more than 14,000 lb. The trucks will come in two variants: a four-passenger Combat Tactical Vehicle with 3,500-lb. payload and a two-passenger Combat Support Vehicle with a 5,100-lb. payload. The "concept of operations" document, which outlines the services' required capabilities, states the vehicle must be able "to leave the local road network and maneuver over cross-country terrain, gravel/dirt secondary roadways, single track trails with no manmade improvements and cross-country terrain with no roads, routes or well-worn trails." In other words, the JLTV must be able travel pretty much anywhere. "If you negotiate really rough terrain in the current Humvee, once you get to where you're going you're sore all over," says Dave Marek, vice president of defense engineering at Oshkosh. "You 41