Long-Term Armor Strategy (LTAS)
The Long-Term Armor Strategy (LTAS) was developed by the US Army in 2006 as a second generation of Tactical Wheeled Vehicle armoring strategies. It was separate and distinct from near-term Add-on-Armor efforts, which began during operations in Southwest Asia in 2003. These efforts fulfilled an urgent need. Unlike these kits, the LTAS employed a modular concept of A Kits and B Kits. The modular configuration allows for a basic level of protection (or A Kit), with the option to readily add additional armor as the situation requires (using add-on B Kits). The kits would be designed to require a minimum of work and be capable of being installed by lower echelon personnel than usually required. The configurations incorporated lessons learned from near-term efforts, but provided protection levels as mission dictated and allowed for separate peacetime and wartime configurations.
The program would affect all US Army combat service support wheeled vehicle types, including the Family of Heavy Tactical Trucks (FHTV), the Family of Medium Tactical Trucks (FMTV), and the High Mobility Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) family. When the project started it was also planned to incorporate the armor developments into the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program.
As of 2007, the program was continuing for Medium and Heavy Fleets, but had been temporarily suspended for HMMMWVs, with the exception of the M1151 and M1152 vehicles. The issue with applying the kits to the HMMWV was that the add-on Fragmentary Armor kits developed already over taxed the vehicles chassis and payload capabilities, and when combined with the A Kit exceeded the vehicle's gross weight requirements.
The HMMWV Expanded Capacity Vehicle 2 series was intended to rectify these problems, and all variants in that series were stated to be "Armor Ready," indicating their ability to accept the LTAS armor kits.
