JLTV Wracked By ‘Perfect Storm’ Of CR, Shutdown, Sequester: Uncertainty Rules

http://breakingdefense.com/2013/10/jltv-wracked-by-perfect-storm-of-cr-shutdown-sequester-uncertainty-rules/



At least $250 grand a pop

JLTV Wracked By ‘Perfect Storm’ Of CR, Shutdown, Sequester: Uncertainty Rules
By Colin Clark on October 22, 2013 at 1:47 PM

AUSA: A recently retired general officer summed up the mood among many Army officers and defense industry officials here yesterday: “This is the worst, most depressing situation I’ve seen in 34 years of service.”

The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program is just one indicator in that depressing scenario facing the Army. The service still plans to buy 49,000 of the armored tactical vehicles designed to replace the Humvee and the Marines plan to buy at least 5,500, But that commitment is under intense pressure, program officials made clear here.

It faces what the Army colonel who is the program manager – John Cavedo – called “a perfect storm” of the Continuing Resolution, sequestration (and the dual-track planning for two different budget levels it requires), civilian workforce furloughs, and the federal government shutdown. “But despite all of that we still have the train on the track,” Col. Cavedo told reporters here. “We’re not going to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.”

Doing that will not be easy. Part of the reason for the glum faces here is the incredible uncertainty generated by the combination of congressional inaction and vacillation, sequestration and the impact this is all having as the next budget is built.