The U.S. military for years has used the Humvee as its “go to” vehicle for numerous tasks from general transportation to combat operations. The problem with using the Humvee in some situations is that the vehicle was not designed from the outset to be an armored vehicle leading to survivability issues in combat situations (i.e., roadside bombings).

In September 2007, word surfaced that the Army was testing Humvee's that used composite body panels to give the vehicle improved survivability on the modern battlefield. These new Humvees never saw deployment though. Rather than try to modify the existing Humvee design the U.S. military is instead abandoning the vehicle for a new design. 

Defense Tech reports that in the Pentagon's budget for 2010 only $1 million is allotted to replace vehicles lost to accident and war. There will be no purchases above the number required to replenish stocks. The South Bend Tribune reports that the Army will buy 2,600 additional Humvees that are being built at the AM General plant now and will not be buying more after March. There is over a billion dollars devoted to maintaining the existing Humvee fleet in the Pentagon budget.

The vehicle believed to be replacing the Humvee is called the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle or JLTV. The JLTV is a new vehicle that is being developed by multiple branches of the military including the Army and Marine Corps. The JLTV has been designed from the outset with multiple variants to meet the needs of various missions. 

Some of the variants will be armored to help soldiers survive roadside bombings and small arms fire during combat operations. In all five versions are expected including infantry combat vehicles and non-armored versions for use as ambulances, utility vehicles, and general purpose mobility. The JLTV has a higher payload than the Humvee as well. Six soldiers can ride in the JLTV in some versions with other versions carrying less depending on how it is outfitted.