Jeep Gladiator XMT Light Tactical Vehicle Announced by FCA and AM General

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This might be cool.

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AM General press release:

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 14, 2019 – Leading manufacturer of light tactical vehicles, AM General, together with the Jeep Brand of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), today introduced a new light tactical concept vehicle at the Annual Meeting and Exposition of the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA). The Jeep Gladiator Extreme Military-Grade Truck (XMT) by AM General is the first phase of a collaboration that reunites two companies whose histories trace back to World War II. In creating the Jeep Gladiator XMT, AM General leveraged the Gladiator’s class-leading capabilities and customized the truck to meet global customers’ needs for a light-weight military truck.

“We are extremely excited to partner with FCA and introduce the Jeep Gladiator Extreme Military-Grade Truck at AUSA,” said AM General President and CEO, Andy Hove. “This new venture gives us an opportunity to showcase our expertise in light tactical vehicles and help FCA maximize the Gladiator’s global reach and potentially enter new military markets.”

AM General identified the all-new 2020 Jeep Gladiator – the most capable midsize truck ever, with 7,650 pounds of towing capacity and up to 1,600 pounds of payload capacity – as the ideal platform on which to develop the Extreme Military-Grade concept vehicle.

“The Jeep brand has an important military heritage, so we couldn’t be happier that AM General expressed interest in creating the Gladiator XMT,” said Jim Morrison, Head of Jeep Brand – North America. “The all-new Jeep Gladiator boasts unmatched functionality, versatility and especially capability – including two advanced 4×4 systems, locking differentials, skid plates, tow hooks, and incredible approach, breakover and departure angles – the perfect foundation for this ultra-capable military concept vehicle.”

“We’re proud to partner with AM General, we look forward to gauging interest and gathering feedback on the Jeep Gladiator XMT, and we’re excited about potential future opportunities,” Morrison added.

Based on its over 100 years of experience in the defense industry and deep knowledge of the global military landscape, AM General identified a series of parts and accessories that amplify the Jeep Gladiator’s leading off-road maneuverability and enhance the Gladiator’s capability to provide its end users with the appropriate equipment for tactical communications and service. The Jeep Gladiator XMT has been upfitted by AM General with both custom-built and commercially available military-grade parts to create an even more rugged truck that can traverse the toughest of terrains in adverse conditions and is ready to meet varied military customer requirements.

As with the iconic, proven and versatile Humvee, AM General can also apply its manufacturing and engineering expertise to convert the Gladiator XMT into mission-specific and purposeful light-weight tactical trucks based on customer requirements. Whether the need is to have a rugged personnel transport carrier or a command and control truck, the company has demonstrated through the Enhanced Tactical Kit (ETK) offerings on Humvee, its ability to deliver solutions that are customer-driven, and cost-effective.

Pending feedback and interest in the military marketplace, production could begin in the second half of 2020. In addition to the gas model, Gladiator XMT would be offered to military customers as a diesel version.

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I remember when the DOD was looking at a militarized version of a TJ Rubicon as a special purpose vehicle and every critic balked at the price. Something like 20k more than MSRP, but with appropriate paint, coms, and a few other mods. A steal for defense assets and I thought it was a great idea. It didnt work out and a few years later we were in Iraq and the folks that would have had the Jeep were in Mercedes trucks (price unknown). Of course all the Hiluxes in country seemed to be working alright too despite operator error.
 
Those tube door look like a good way to get shot in the kidney. I'm wondering what they see it those?
 
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I was running a canoe shuttle with a vet this summer. He was stuck in the middle in the back seat of my truck. I said how you doing, he said no one gets shot in the middle, lol. That what made me think of that question.
 
Nope. Early versions were all "soft" doors (canvas/plastic skin). Only later during counterinsurgency when IED's became common did we up armor them.

Ah good to know. I do remember seeing lots of soft tops and doors, but not lately, that makes sense.
 
They'll have to start with payload. 1,600 lbs ain't gonna cut it on something with a footprint that large. Most of the UTV-based military models already exceed that. e.g. Polaris DAGOR payload = at 1,474 kg or 3,427 lbs), and the specs for the Army's new ISV competition (there's a Chevy Colorado based entry) include a 5,000lb payload in a footprint that will be this size or smaller.

Uncle Sam's Misguided Children tote a lot of gear, and none of it's light weight.

If Santa Clause ever asks me what I want to see improved on
 
Definitely cool looking, not like they don't have the J8 though.

Improvised armor was still being added in 2004 and by 2005 the M1114 upgraded Humvees were showing up (and destroying running gear, suspensions, etc.). A lightweight, essentially unarmored vehicle definitely has its place behind enemy lines and it has a very limited usefulness on/ahead of the lines. As usual, the military starts out with one idea then everyone gets their hands on it and suddenly it's way oversized and weight for the original mission parameters, way over budget, behind schedule, far more prone to maintenance problems including parts logistics and so complicated it takes more specialist to keep it running.
 
Looks like Israel is still producing their version under license, I didn't see much else about the others but I didn't dig very deep either.
 
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