On February 4, Oshkosh Defense received four contracts from the United States Army totaling $214,832,915 for the FMTV A2 (Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle A2) vehicle platform. Part of the order is the first ever request for the Low Velocity Air Drop line, which was designed to allow for the trucks to be safely dropped from aircraft.

LVADs, particularly the M1081 cargo truck (which comes in 4×4 and 6×6 variants) and the 1093 6×6 dump truck, make up $133,017,600 in the order and are expected to fully arrive by September 30, 2027. They successfully underwent airdrop testing in 2024, which entailed dropping them from the backs of a C-17 Globemaster and C-130 Hercules.

The remaining money was split between three contracts worth $14,848,311 (through August 31, 2026), $23,307,394 (December 30, 2026), and $43,659,610 (September 30, 2026). Each is for the FMTV line in general, though only the $23M contract is confirmed to require construction at Oshkosh’s headquarters in Wisconsin.

Oshkosh secured the contract to develop the FMTV A2 in 2018, with 19 variants currently available (12 trucks, four chassis, three trailers) and over three thousand units ordered. As part of modernizing the airborne fleet, the A2 LVADs have a folding cab that reduces the vehicle height to 90″, a special chassis built to withstand parachute drop and landing, and winches. Two A2 LVAD prototypes were sent to the Army for testing in 2023.

“The FMTV A2 LVAD reinforces the U.S. Army’s commitment to equipping soldiers with the capability they need, when and where they need it most,” commented Oshkosh Defense’s chief programs officer Pat Williams. “We’re proud to provide these critical vehicles to the airborne community and support the U.S. Army with this urgent operational need.

“With fielding already underway this year, these additional orders build on the momentum of the FMTV A2 program and we’re eager for soldiers to benefit from its enhanced mobility, protection, and payload capacity.”

According to a Department of Defense statement, three bids were “solicited via the internet”. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal is located in Warren, Michigan, and oversees procurement and contracts for most of the Army’s weapon systems including vehicles.

Oshkosh has been developing the FMTV since 2009. Support for its predecessor, the A1P2, is mainly overseen by Oshkosh Defense’s aftermarket arm.

A statement from Oshkosh notes it is expecting a “three-year contract extension in Spring 2025 for order years 8–10.”

Featured image credit: Oshkosh Defense