The US Army ABNSOTD recently conducted the final airdrop test of the Oshkosh Defense FMTV A2 Cargo 6×6 Low-Velocity Airdrop or LVAD.
~
Press Release, Oshkosh WI, 22 April 2024: The US Army Operational Test Command’s Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate (ABNSOTD) recently conducted the final airdrop test of the Oshkosh Defense FMTV A2 Cargo 6×6 Low-Velocity Airdrop (LVAD). The airdrops, which took place at Fort Liberty in North Carolina, mark a key milestone for the FMTV A2 LVAD programme. The tests validated the design and capabilities of the Cargo 6×6 LVAD to ensure its suitability for the stringent demands of airdrop and follow-on operations.
Developed to address the challenges of an ageing medium LVAD fleet, the three Oshkosh Defense FMTV A2 LVAD variants, the Cargo 6×6, Cargo 4×4, and Dump Truck 6×6, are each engineered to fulfil a critical need for the Airborne community.
“We are extremely pleased with the results of the FMTV A2 LVAD airdrop tests,” stated Pat Williams, chief programs officer at Oshkosh Defense. “This is an integral step in delivering the FMTV A2 LVAD capability that underscores our commitment to partnering with the US Army to deliver mission-critical tactical vehicles that meet the needs of the modern battlefield.”
The FMTV A2 Cargo 6×6 LVAD successfully demonstrated its ability to withstand the rigours of an airdrop, maintain structural integrity upon landing and complete the post-drop road manoeuvres. In 2023, the Cargo 6×6 LVAD prototype completed Rollover Protection Structures (ROPS), RIGEX (Rigging Exercises), Roller Loading, and Simulated Airdrop Impact Testing (SAIT). The Cargo 4×4 and Dump Truck LVAD variants will undergo similar testing in 2024.
~
