Army Issues Prototyping Contracts for Common Tactical Truck Replacement

March 14, 2023

GM Defense
Washington, DC
http://www.gmdefensellc.com/

Mack Defense
Allentown, PA
https://www.mackdefense.com/

The U.S. Army issued new contracts in January for the first phase of its Common Tactical Truck  (CTT) Program. The aim of the multi-phased program is to replace the Army’s family of heavy tactical trucks with production of up to 40,000 trucks valued at up to $14 billion.

American Rheinmetall Vehicles and GM Defense LLC have won a contract for the first phase of the CTT Program under a strategic collaboration established last year between the two companies. The team is offering its HX3 Common Tactical Truck (HX3-CTT) as a prototype for the potential CTT replacement.

The HX3 is the latest generation of trucks in the HX family of trucks which are in service with a number of NATO and U.S. allied nations. The HX3-CTT next-generation system has enhanced on- and off-road mobility, integrated survivability, and an open digital architecture supporting ADAS and enabled for autonomous vehicle operation.

Combined with its embedded open architecture, the commercial computing backbone of the HX3-CTT will support persistent modernization and allow for rapid increases in capability as technologies mature. With a global footprint of both current military user nations and commercial dealer networks, the HX3-CTT provides a basis for optimized lifecycle costs and service support to the Army across the globe, according to GM Defense.

“Winning the CTT prototype phase demonstrates the undeniable value that the strategic collaboration between GM Defense and American Rheinmetall Vehicles brings to this important, next-generation Army program,” said Steve DuMont, President, GM Defense. “We are excited to bring our advanced technologies and manufacturing prowess into this important collaboration and deliver a proven, modern solution to enhance warfighter capability.

Mack Defense has also been awarded a contract to design, build, and deliver trucks for the prototype and testing phase of the CTT program. The Pennsylvania-based manufacturer will provide three prototype vehicles by January 2024 to be ready for testing by the Army in myriad situations to evaluate vehicle performance, efficiency, and durability.

According to Jack Terefinko, CTT Program Manager, Mack Defense, “The vehicles include an on-road tractor, an off-road tractor, and a load-handling system (LHS) truck each based off our commercial-based vehicle platforms and technologies modified to meet the strict requirements of CTT."

Mack Defense is currently performing two major defense programs of record, each with a scope that directly aligns with the CTT. Both projects use modified, commercial-based vehicles from the extensive global Volvo Group network.

The first is the U.S. Army’s M917A3 Heavy Duty Dump Truck (HDT). The M917A3 HDT is based on the commercial Mack Granite model. Serial production began in 2021 and continues today.

Two other companies, Navistar Defense and Oshkosh Defense, have also been awarded prototyping agreements to participate in the first phase of the Army's CTT Program.

Upon planned completion of the CTT prototype evaluations and testing in 2025, the Army is expected to launch a separate competition which will lead to a production contract for the modernization of the heavy tactical vehicle fleet. The Army has stated that the initial production contract could be more than 7,000 trucks valued at more than $5.1 billion.

Sources

• Prototyping Agreements Awarded for Common Tactical Truck Program
• American Rheinmetall Vehicles and GM Defense Win Contract for the First Phase of the U.S. Army’s Common Tactical Truck Program
• Mack Defense Awarded A Contract For The Prototype And Testing Phase Of U.S. Army’s Common Tactical Truck (CTT) Program