The US State Department has approved the possible Foreign Military Sale of additional JLTV (M1280A1) armored vehicles to North Macedonia.

The message with the announcement was published on the official website of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency of the US Department of Defense.

In total, North Macedonia plans to purchase 26 additional armored combat vehicles, of which 18 vehicles are in the M1278A1/A2 JLTV (HGC) version, and 7 are M1280A1/A2 JLTV general purpose vehicles.

The value of the additional order is $111 million. It will be added to the previous order, under which the country ordered 71 JLTV armored vehicles.

The American company Oshkosh Defense and AM General produce JLTV armored vehicles. Due to the relatively simple and reliable design, the vehicles have gained great popularity in the world.

The use of modular design allows them to be used for various tasks, as well as to strengthen the vehicle’s ballistic protection.

JLTVs are designed to replace HMMWV light SUVs in the United States Armed Forces, which have been used for about 40 years.

Militarnyi previously reported that in 2023, countries such as Belgium, Slovenia, Lithuania, and others started to receive JLTV armored vehicles.

Rapid production of new vehicles is associated with a large order portfolio, as the United States alone has placed an order for 20,000 armored vehicles of this type.

In addition, to ensure fast order fulfillment, the vehicles are manufactured at several enterprises, which ensures timely delivery of the vehicles to the military.

It should be noted that in January 2024, AM General introduced the first JLTV A2 prototype.

The JLTV A2 represents a new generation of vehicles. The new equipment, which has a more powerful engine, should have lower fuel consumption and, thanks to the installation of lithium-ion batteries, operate without downtime. In addition, the JLTV A2 has many improvements, including a more advanced transmission, updated electrical systems and high-quality corrosion protection.