Marine Corps selects Mack Defense and Navistar Defense for Medium Tactical Truck development

The Marine Corps has selected contractors Mack Defense and Navistar Defense for the initial development of a Medium Tactical Truck, a future vehicle family intended to replace the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) fleet.

In phase I of the program, each company will spend approximately 12 months developing and submitting “innovative design concepts” and a “comprehensive project plan” based on service requirements for a cargo MTT variant, according to a Marine Corps notice.

Early prototype development will focus on three cargo variant configurations consisting of 10-, 15- and 20-foot cargo beds, the announcement states.

System requirements include the integration of hybrid electric technologies for “reduced fuel consumption, extended range and a silent watch capability”; all-terrain mobility with a 70% off-road and 30% on-road mission profile; a 60-inch water fording capability; a 10-kilowatt, onboard power generation capacity and up to 30 kilowatts of exportable power generation for external demands.

The legacy MTVR platform, produced by Oshkosh Defense, includes cargo, dumper, wrecker, tractor and resupply variants. The vehicle, which supports all elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, began fielding in the early 2000s with a 22-year service life that was subsequently extended to 2042.

In a separate announcement shared with Inside Defense, Navistar Defense said its MTT prototype will be based on its existing ATLAS vehicle. The company’s prototypes will be delivered by December 2025, the announcement continues.

The Marine Corps requested just under $12 million in fiscal year 2024 research and development funding for the MTVR Modification program, which funds a variety of vehicle modernization and development initiatives. Funding is expected to climb to more than $21 million in FY-25 and grow to nearly $85 million by FY-27.

Budget documents indicate a milestone B decision is expected in the fourth quarter of FY-26, with the program’s engineering and manufacturing development phase spanning FY-27 to FY-29 and its production and deployment phase following from FY-30 to FY-34.

“The Marine Corps looks forward to collaborating with Mack Defense and Navistar Defense in this crucial development phase, working toward the common goal of delivering a Medium Tactical Truck that meets the diverse and challenging needs of Marine Corps missions,” the service announcement states.