BAE Systems wins USMC contract option for more ACVs

BAE Systems has received a $184m US Marine Corps (USMC) full-rate production (FRP) contract for additional amphibious combat vehicles (ACV).

Under the contract option, which covers production, fielding, and support costs, BAE will deliver 36 ACV personnel carrier variant (ACV-P) vehicles.

The ACV-P is an eight-wheeled amphibious assault vehicle that can carry 13 marines and a three-membered crew.

In December last year, BAE Systems was awarded the Lot I FRP contract option for these 36 vehicles.

The FRP decision followed the declaration of ACV’s initial operational capability (IOC) in November.

Since 2018, BAE Systems has been in low-rate production on the personnel carrier variant of the ACV family.

The company noted that the two contract options increase the total vehicles under FRP to 72.

BAE Systems amphibious programmes director John Swift said: “The exercising of this option validates years of teamwork in partnership with the marines to provide the most adaptable amphibious vehicle possible to meet their expeditionary needs.

“The ACV was designed to meet the marines’ needs of today while allowing for growth to meet future mission role requirements.”

BAE Systems stated that FRP will include additional variants, including the 30mm medium calibre turret (ACV-30), ACV command variant (ACV-C), and recovery variant (ACV-R).

Production and support of the ACVs is taking place at BAE Systems’ locations in the US states of Virginia, California, Michigan, South Carolina and Pennsylvania.

The ACV mobile, survivable and adaptable platform has been developed by BAE Systems, alongside teammate IVECO Defence Vehicles.

In 2018, USMC selected BAE and Iveco Defence Vehicles for the ACV programme.

The programme intends to replace the USMC’s legacy fleet of assault amphibious vehicles (AAVs).