The Combat Tactical Vehicle Technology Demonstrator (CTV-TD) is the six-passenger combat variant within the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) family of vehicles. Although the CTV-TD will not be a production vehicle, it does represent the "realm of the possible" for the future family of light tactical vehicles.
In June 2006, the Nevada Automotive Test Center (NATC) completed Phase I requirement reviews, trade studies, concept design, and modeling and simulation for the CTV under contract with the Office of Naval Research. NATC was awarded the Phase II option to design, build, and test a technology demonstrator based on the CTV concept. They have conducted ballistic and blast testing on representative armor recipes to develop the integrated armor/structure solution. Additionally, complete hulls are being blast tested at the Aberdeen Test Center in Aberdeen, Maryland.
The CTV-TD has new automotive technologies and uses innovative solutions for meeting the challenges of new demands for increased crew protection, better mobility, and increased payload. The vehicle does not depend on high-tech, highrisk, future technologies that may be years away from reality; it relies on a unique and effective combination of technology available right now. The government will share lessons learned about designing, building, and testing with industry partners, and use those lessons to help establish realistic and workable requirements as the JLTV acquisition process moves forward. The CTV-TD sets the baseline for future light vehicles; showing that it is possible to use today’s technologies to build an affordable, capable, light vehicle system for tomorrow that meets current, and, more importantly, future needs of warfighters.