On November 24, 2024, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced that the ministerial committee for equipping and power building approved several procurement and modernization projects for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). These projects include replacing the Nirit (Saar 4.5) fleet and acquiring hundreds of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), designated locally as “Para.”
The JLTVs, manufactured by Oshkosh Defense in the United States, are intended to replace the IDF’s aging fleets of Humvees and M113 armored personnel carriers. This acquisition aims to modernize the IDF’s vehicle inventory with more advanced systems. The initial order of 75 JLTVs was made in December 2023 through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mechanism. Additional units were acquired via Direct Commercial Sales (DCS). By November 2024, some JLTVs were observed in IDF operations, indicating their active deployment.
The initial JLTV procurement is part of a broader U.S. military aid package announced in March 2024, valued at approximately $30 million. With a unit cost of $400,000, the package also includes laser-guided missiles, artillery shells, night-vision devices, and bunker-buster munitions. The JLTVs feature armored components produced by Plasan, an Israeli company, through its U.S.-based subsidiary Plasan North America. The use of a “kitted hull” concept allows for pre-assembled armored cabins to be efficiently manufactured and delivered.