Published: October 24, 2008 10:59 pm
JLTV decision postponed
BY SHAWN PIATEK
The Tribune-Democrat
The big news for JWF Industries on Friday was that there was no news.
Leadership of the company was waiting in anticipation to learn if it, along with Lockheed Martin, had been selected as one of the finalists for the Army’s $10 billion Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, or JLTV, program.
Not long before the late-day announcement was expected, word was passed from the Department of Defense that the announcement had been postponed.
Army officials said they now expect the announcement will come on Monday.
According to Defense News, the Army has selected its three winners and that decision will not change.
JWF had no further comment on the matter other than it remains confident that it will be selected as one of three teams to receive a 27-month technology development contract.
JLTV is an Army ground vehicle program pegged to replace the nation’s aging fleet of Humvees. Full production of the vehicles is expected to begin in 2013.
JWF Defense is one of the main partners on the Lockheed Martin JLTV team. JWF has played a key role in the development of Lockheed Martin’s prototypes, including providing metal fabrication support as well as full use of the company’s test track located on the hill above JWF’s facilities at the Lower Works.
The contract currently is the largest being bid by the Department of Defense and has brought all of the industry’s biggest players to the table.
Company officials at JWF have repeatedly said that if Lockheed wins the full contract, the amount of work expected to be completed in Johnstown would create at least 1,000 jobs.
