Military vehicles are built to withstand extreme conditions, but sometimes even the strongest designs can have hidden flaws.
The JLTV (Joint Light Tactical Vehicle), a modern replacement for the military’s aging Humvees, was designed for durability and protection.
However, a recent investigation has revealed serious issues with the armor plating used in these vehicles.
Bloomberg reports that the armor, produced at factories owned by Russian businessman Roman Abramovich, has been failing under fire.
The metal plates were manufactured at Evraz facilities in Portland and Oregon before being supplied to Oshkosh Defense LLC, the company responsible for producing the JLTV.
According to the report, test results were falsified for years to hide defects in the armor.
Between 2017 and 2019, over 12,800 armor plates were delivered to the arms manufacturer.
These plates were meant to provide long-lasting protection, with an expected lifespan of at least 20 years.
Instead, they have been cracking, raising serious concerns about the safety of the vehicles and the soldiers relying on them.
Although every piece was supposed to be inspected, only a small number from each batch were actually tested, allowing defective plates to pass quality control.
This scandal may explain why Oshkosh Defense lost a massive $8.6 billion contract in 2023 to produce the next generation of JLTVs.
The U.S. military relies heavily on these vehicles, which have been in service since 2019. More than 20,000 have already been produced.
Weighing just over 10 tons, they are designed to protect troops in combat zones.
Unlike the older Humvees, JLTVs meet MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) standards.
Each vehicle comes with standard armor and can be fitted with extra protection if needed. The JLTV platform is also highly adaptable.
It serves as the base for transport trucks, machine gun carriers, tank destroyers, and air defense systems used by the Marine Corps.
These vehicles are not just used by the U.S. military. Countries like Belgium, Montenegro, Lithuania, and Romania have also ordered them.
With the armor defect now exposed, military officials will have to decide how to address the issue and prevent similar failures in the future.
