( Motor Authority )- The current M998 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle ( Hummvee for short), the truck that spawned the Hummer H1, has been in use by the military for more than 20 years, but a successor could be just around the corner. Earlier this month military officials issued a 'Request for Proposals' to suppliers, soliciting concepts for what it calls a new Joint Light Tactical family of Vehicles ( JLTVs ).
The new model will replace the Hummvee and will come with no less than 10 variations. Seven firms are now working on the design of the new truck, with first proposals due by the middle of next month, reports MotorTrend . From this, the firms will be shortlisted to just three finalists, who will then have to prepare seven variants of the JLTV family in three different weight classes. After 15 months of development and a year of testing, a final design will be picked.
Pictured above is the JLTV PDQ from BAE Systems, the military's third-largest contractor. Developed in conjunction with truck manufacturer International and its Navistar Defense division, the PDQ relies on a number of off-the-shelf components and is a clear favorite to win the contract. It features a V-shaped body designed to deflect mine blasts away from the vehicle, a concealed driveshaft, adjustable suspension and inch thick armor plating.