Bad news for Ceradyne
Northrop Grumman
After all, Ceradyne's place at the table always depended on two lucky throws of the dice: First, someone had to choose Ceradyne's new "Bull" armor system for use on its JLTV submission. Second, that someone had to win a contract to build a prototype. And considering the wide expanse of contestants bidding for one of perhaps two contracts to produce prototype vehicles for the Pentagon to examine, the likelihood that Northrop-Oshkosh would cast that second throw successfully was far from certain anyhow.
Oh, well. I suppose there's still a chance that one of the other teams will make cow-eyes at the Bull. Lockheed
Now for something completely different
And speaking of JLTVs ... is anybody getting tired of that acronym yet? Good. Because it's time to name the winner of last month's impromptu "rename the JLTV" contest. My invitation for suggestions generated nearly two dozen emails, ranging from derivations of the name itself -- "Jolt-vee," sort of like how the HMWWV became the "Humvee," to the accidentally derisive "Bumvee" -- to suggestions that the military make our acronymic lives easier by re-acronyming the whole shebang -- Jammer (Joint Military Replacement) and JamRam (Joint Military Recon Mobile).
Two entries tied for most amusing:
- Tom F. wrote in suggesting we call it the "Roach Coach" joint light tactical vehicle. (Think about it.)
- With a nod to Brangelina, Joe O. dubbed the new-and-improved Hummer: "JoLi TV"
But the name getting the most votes -- and Joe O. gets credit for suggesting this one first -- is "Jolt" or, if absolutely necessary, "Jolt-vee". Exercising my powers of editorial discretion, I hereby declare that it shall be so named henceforth.
Make the Fool your source for all things (defense) investing.
See also: