The Lockheed Martin Common Vehicle Next Generation (CVNG), an armed lightweight military vehicle, is ready for its initial in-theater deployment. The CVNG is an upgraded configuration of the High Mobility Transport vehicle in use by U.S. and allied armed forces. Deliveries of the upgraded vehicles were completed in June 2010, just four months after the contract award in February 2010.
The upgraded vehicles received enhanced blast and ballistic armor protection. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor on the program, with the armor and other occupant survivability systems supplied by Jankel Tactical Systems LLC.
The CVNG's innovative and modular design delivers high levels of reliability and ease of maintenance. The vehicle easily supports five occupants plus a main gunner. Its open cab offers a 360-degree fighting platform, but armored panels enclose the cab for better protection. CVNG features a 4x4 or 6x6 configuration, with a removable third axel, and also offers a reconfigured modular cargo deck optimized for larger items. The lightweight vehicle is internally transportable on C-130, C-5, CH-53 and CH-47.
"Our customers recognize the new level of mission flexibility this vehicle brings to the battlefield," said MaryLynne Lubinger, Program Manager for CVNG at Lockheed Martin. "Our CVNG upgrades increase situational awareness, mobility, agility and top speed, and it's ready for use by our Soldiers in the world's most extreme environments."
Key survivability components of the upgrade include Jankel's modular blast and ballistic armor system and the company's Blast Limiting and Attenuation Seat Technology (BLASTech) mine/Improvised Explosive Device (IED) acceleration attenuating seating and pulse attenuation devices. Together, these systems significantly enhance the survivability of the vehicle crew during a mine/IED attack by reducing the incidence and severity of injury. Designed to overmatch the threat from anti-tank mines and improvised explosive devices, BLASTech has been tested extensively under international protocols and standards. Fully compatible with U.S. FMVSS crash test standards, BLASTech seating is in service with the U.S. Military and its allies, and has been proven repeatedly in combat to save lives and reduce the incidence and severity of injury.