At the beginning of last August, the United States government authorized the possible sale of new JLTV tactical vehicles to equip the Canadian Armed Forces. The operation, encompassed within the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program, responds to the requirements for renewing the fleet of tactical vehicles undertaken by the Canadian government.
In 2019, Canadian authorities began a process of receiving and evaluating offers in order to renew part of the current fleet of vehicles of the Canadian Armed Forces. The program, called the Next Generation Fighting Vehicle (NGFV), seeks to provide the force with a new 4×4 armored platform intended to replace the current multipurpose HMMWV vehicles.
After several years of evaluation and reconsiderations of the NGFV, the U.S. JLTV was selected as the future multipurpose vehicle, thus initiating the procedures encompassed within the FMS Program.
With this background, the most recent milestone was reported by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) with the confirmation of the Canadian government’s request for the acquisition of up to sixty (60) new JLTV tactical vehicles. The amount of the operation, which has AM General as the main supplier, reaches US$160 million.
In addition, besides the aforementioned tactical vehicles —presumably the most modern version provided by AM General, called JLTV A2, currently introduced into the U.S. Army—, the operation includes the provision of logistical services. In this respect, one of the NGFV’s requirements is that the supplier guarantees integrated logistical services for two years, in line with the understandable process of incorporating a new platform for the Canadian Armed Forces.
Lastly, the State Department indicated: “The proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the military capability of Canada, a NATO ally that constitutes an important force for ensuring political stability and economic progress, as well as being a contributor in military, peacekeeping, and humanitarian operations around the world.”
Adding: “The proposed sale will enhance Canada’s ability to face current and future threats, and will strengthen its aptitude to operate in more complex and rapidly evolving environments. Likewise, it will contribute to greater burden-sharing with allies and partners in support of peace operations and peacekeeping missions around the world. Canada will have no difficulty incorporating these articles and services into its armed forces.”
*Photographs used for illustration purposes
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