AUSA 2026 opens with new diesel heart for the HUMVEE
Why it matters: the Association of the US Army's Annual Meeting is one of the world's biggest land-defence trade fairs, and this year's diesel-power news isn't a hybrid story, it's a straight engine upgrade, a reminder that plenty of military diesel investment is still going into better combustion, not just electrification.
AUSA 2026 opened on 12 October at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and runs through 14 October. AM General used the show to reveal the first phase of a three-part HUMVEE modernisation: a new Common Rail Direct Injection engine making 250 horsepower and more than 500 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic and a redesigned hood and grille to fit it. The engine runs on JP-8, F-24 or conventional diesel and will also power AM General's new unmanned ground vehicle and the HUMVEE Hawkeye artillery system. Production of phase one is slated for late 2027. Separately, Oshkosh Defense confirmed it's showing a hybrid-electric version of its Joint Light Tactical Vehicle at the same show, with no battery size or electric-only range detail given.
Source: AM General, 9 October 2026, corroborated by Soldier Systems Daily and The Defense Post.