$184 Million for Initial 36 Vehicles
The US Marine Corps has awarded BAE Systems a $184 million (€151 million) contract for full-rate production of the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV). Initially, a total of 26 vehicles have been contracted for, which is expected to double to 72 in early 2021, with the options anticipating up to 80 vehicles per year for five years.
The ACV is a highly mobile, survivable, and adaptable platform for conducting full-spectrum ship-to-shore operations and brings enhanced combat power to the battlefield. This full-rate production milestone comes shortly after the USMC declared Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the vehicle on 13 November, and is also a significant milestone for the company’s ACV Family of Vehicles programme.
“As the ACV enters into service it will be providing highly advanced solutions for conducting maritime-based warfare operations and will play a vital role in the Marine Corps’ complex and challenging missions,” commented John Swift, the company’s Director of Amphibious Programmes. “For BAE Systems, full-rate production validates years of dedication and teamwork in partnership with the Marines to introduce this capability to the warfighter and leave our adversaries on the battlefield at a marked disadvantage.”
Developed in collaboration with IVECO Defence Vehicles, the ACV represents the optimum balance between sea and land mobility, survivability, and future growth potential. With a force protection capability three times greater than the Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV), the ACV provides substantially increased horsepower with its six-cylinder, 690hp engine, making it capable of speeds over 55mph on land. It is also designed to provide Marines with the flexibility to address additional mission roles and future technologies through its modular design.
BAE Systems is currently under a $67 million contract modification awarded in June 2019 to develop new ACV variants to enhance battlefield situational awareness and firepower. The contract calls for design and development of command (ACV-C) and 30mm medium-calibre cannon (ACV-30) variants. Design and development efforts have begun on both.
