Army hits milestone: installs 10,000th upgrade to HMMWV fleet

DETROIT ARSENAL, Mich. — The Army’s Program Executive Office Combat Support & Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS) recently celebrated the installation of the 10,000th anti-lock brake and electronic stability control (ABS/ESC) kit to the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) fleet recently. Army hits milestone: installs 10,000th upgrade to HMMWV fleet

The milestone HMMWV retrofit occurred in December 2023 at Red River Army Depot near Texarkana, Texas. This remarkable achievement will not only increase the vehicle’s capability, but also reduce likelihood of equipment damage. Most importantly, retrofitting HMMWVs with this equipment will go far in mitigating serious injury and potential loss of life.

The HMMWV ABS/ESC retrofit program is a depot-level modification work order established to mitigate and reduce potential for fatal HMMWV rollover accidents. Due to the life-saving capability of ABS/ESC, the program has received a high level of congressional support to accelerate retrofit of the enduring HMMWV fleet with this critical safety technology.

The Joint Program Office Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, part of PEO CS&CSS, manages more than 105,000 light tactical vehicles currently in operation. The U.S. military’s LTV fleet is the largest fleet of its kind in the world.

While the Army met the desired HMMWV acquisition objective in February 2011, the platform maintains an overall economic useful life of 30 years through new production, divestiture, and sustainment of older models through depot retrofit programs.

New production HMMWVs have included the ABS/ESC capability since 2018. Retrofit of the enduring fleet began in 2021. A higher installation tempo has been achieved in the last 18 months due to congressional funding provided in fiscal years 2022 and 2023 and innovative program management efforts.

ABS/ESC retrofit activities are currently underway at 16 sites, including 12 stateside locations, and four outside the continental United States locations. Red River Army Depot employees all personnel at all retrofit sites.

Ricardo Defense was awarded a contract to produce up to 9,480 ABS/ESC kits in March 2021. Due to the increased funding levels realized in fiscal years 2022 and 2023, a contract modification was awarded in August 2023 increasing the procurement ceiling to more than 53,000 total kits, allowing for other U.S. armed services to also retrofit their respective fleets.

“Achieving this important milestone is due to the great partnership between our Light Tactical Vehicle product office, the Tank-automotive & Armaments Command, its Red River Army Depot, and industry for maintaining an aggressive op tempo installing these important ABS/ESC kits,” said PEO CS&CSS Brig. Gen. Samuel “Luke” Peterson.

The ubiquitous HMMWV has been a multi-service workhorse for nearly 40 years. The HMMWV Family of Vehicles consists of multiple configurations built on a common chassis to support weapon systems, command-and-control systems, and ambulatory systems. The HMMWV also provides ammunition, troop, and general cargo transport.

“The ABS/ESC retrofit program is currently in a healthy position to continue supporting this critical safety capability as fast as possible,” Peterson added. “The Army’s strategy is flexible to allow for acceleration in concert when additional funding becomes available. This is a critical safety capability we’re absolutely committed to.”