The FMTV is derived from the Austrian Steyr 12M18 truck, but substantially modified to meet United States Army requirements.

[3][4] There were originally 17 FMTV variants—four variants in the nominal 2.5 U.S. ton payload class, designated Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV), and 13 variants with a nominal 5 U.S. ton payload rating, called Medium Tactical Vehicle (MTV).

The FMTV was originally manufactured by Stewart & Stevenson (1996–2006), then by Armor Holdings (2006–2007), next by BAE Systems Platforms & Services.

However, along with inputs from other efforts, the FTTS continues to be used to define requirements for future United States Army trucks.

In August 2009, the United States Army announced that Oshkosh Defense had been awarded the FMTV A1P2 rebuy production contract.

Those excluded include specialist FMTV variants such as HIMARS, Patriot, MEADS and LVAD, plus all the armored cabs developed by BAE Systems.

[11] In February 2012, all FMTV work with BAE Systems had concluded, minus a small number of armor B-kits.

BAE Systems and legacy companies delivered around 74,000 FMTV trucks and trailers to the United States Army.

[11] In March 2012, U.S. budgetary projections suggested that due to funding constraints, the FMTV program would be terminated in FY14.

[11] In January 2017, Israel's Ministry of Defense ordered 200 FMTVs from Oshkosh, in a contract valued at $200 million.

[15] In June 2018, Oshkosh announced that the U.S. Army Contracting Command had placed four additional orders, for a total of 771 FMTV A1P2s, valued at $159.6 million.

[17] In June 2019, the US Department of Defence awarded Oshkosh a $320,000,000 modification to domestic and Foreign Military Sales (Argentina, Djibouti, Iraq, Lebanon, Romania) contract, for procurement of Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle variants.

Based on the 12 M 18 chassis-cab, they were fitted with a number of US-supplied/specification components, including a Caterpillar diesel engine, Allison automatic transmission and Meritor drive axles.

[11] On a model-for-model basis the FMTV is around 3 ft. shorter than its bonneted predecessors, while retaining a C-130 Hercules transport capability.

[3][20] The design of the FMTV has never remained static and to further increase reliability, user-friendliness, and operational flexibility, detailed refinements/upgrades have continued throughout FMTVs production run.

[6] The FMTV is built around a conventional bolted / Huck-bolted,[i] cold-formed C-section chassis, with bolted-in tubular cross-members.

[1][6] (sequenced by U.S. Army M number) Current and recent operational scenarios call for logistic trucks of the FMTV type to have at least the option of cab armoring.

The first protection solution for the FMTV was not in answer to such scenarios, but was developed by Stewart & Stevenson and O'Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt Armoring Company (OHE).

[6] To meet emerging threats on deployed operations, in March 2004 DRS Technical Services was awarded a $16.3 million contract to provide 272 armor protection kits for the FMTV.

[23] In answer to demands for greater crew protection, BAE Systems developed the Low Signature Armored Cab (LSAC) for all variants of the FMTV.

[25] The Caiman Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle is based on the MTV A1R platform.

Others have been offered as Excess Defense Articles (EDA) to Iraq, Jordan, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The winner of the contract would be asked to integrate such upgrades; build the vehicles, trailers, and kits; and provide program, maintenance, and logistics support.

[28] In a subsequent statement, an Army spokesman said the RfP "includes an estimated quantity of approximately 2,400 new production vehicles.

"[29] In May 2017, Oshkosh submitted a proposal in response to the RfP for the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) A2 production effort.

[30] At this point, the U.S. Army anticipated a contract award announcement in the second quarter of fiscal year 2018 and stated that the next generation FMTV A2 would comprise 16 models and three trailers.

The initial estimated contract value is $476.2 million, with no cap on the number of vehicles the Army may purchase.

The firm fixed price contract covers a five-year ordering period, plus two additional one-year options.

[19] FMTV A2 variants are: (Production FMTVs are presented in U.S. Army M number sequence) Specific details of FMTV export orders are seldom officially announced, with a large quantity of deliveries covered by assorted US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) awards.