The service is considering the ACV-30, an eight-wheel drive amphibious armored vehicle developed by BAE Systems.
The United States Marine Corps has retired its fleet of M1 Abrams main battle tanks (MBTs), and it made a hard pivot back to its amphibious roots. That included the adoption of combat vehicles more suited to the potential island-hopping campaign it could face in a conflict with China in the Indo-Pacific.
Earlier this year, the service awarded a $188.5 million full-rate production (FRP) contract to BAE Systems for 30 Amphibious Combat Vehicle 30mm (ACV-30mm) platforms, along with test equipment, spare parts, and field support. That contract has reportedly been supersized by nearly an additional $300 million to BAE Systems and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace for another 31 ACV-30s, along with 101 remote weapon turrets to enhance the service’s current fleet. BAE will receive $181.1 million for the further 31 turreted variants, while Kongsberg will be paid $118 million for a FRP order for the 30mm MCT-30 remote turrets.
The majority of the work on the ACV-30 will take place in Pennsylvania.
“Kongsberg is honored to support the US Marine Corps by equipping them with increased firepower and capacity,” said Eirik Lie, president of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. “The ACV-30 offers superior performance compared to current comparable systems, and we see the market potential for our medium caliber turrets as positive, both in the US and internationally.”
The Norwegian-based firm will produce the turret systems at its US-based facility in Johnstown, PA. That facility recently saw an expansion, bringing additional jobs to the city located about 57 miles east of Pittsburgh.
The ACV-30 is one of four variants of the amphibious combat vehicle platform currently produced by BAE Systems. According to the Defence-Blog, it is equipped with a medium-caliber cannon that can provide “dire fire support for Marine units in littoral and contested environments.” The turret is operated remotely by the crew within the ACV-30.
Work on the ACV is carried out at the defense contractor’s York facility located in eastern Pennsylvania.
The 8×8 wheeled Amphibious Combat Vehicle was developed to supplement and subsequently replace the aging Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV), which first entered service in 1972. Production of the ACV personal carrier (ACV-P) began in 2020. The USMC has called for multiple variants, including one with a medium caliber cannon, the ACV-30, and a maintenance/recovery (ACV-R) model. In addition, a command and control (ACV-C) variant was developed to replace a similar platform in the AAV family of vehicles.
The amphibious combat vehicle is an eight-wheel drive armored vehicle developed by BAE Systems. It is designed to provide open-ocean capabilities and land mobility, while offering greater survivability, payload, and upgrade options. The ACV can “swim” approximately 12 nautical miles (22 km) from a landing ship to shore.
Multiple variants of ACV are in service, including the ACV-P, the personnel carrier variant, which can embark 13 Marines in addition to a crew of three. Other models of the vehicle will include the ACV-C, a command and control variant, and the ACV-R, a recovery variant.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
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