BAE Systems, along with teammate Iveco Defence Vehicles, has been awarded a $103.7m contract by the US Marine Corps (USMC) to carry out the engineering, manufacturing, and development (EMD) phase of the amphibious combat vehicle (ACV) 1.1 programme.
The company’s ACV 1.1 solution is expected to provide significant capability improvements to satisfy the USMC Corps’ current and future needs.
BAE Systems new and amphibious vehicles director Deepak Bazaz said: "We are proud to continue our long history of providing the Marine Corps with superior amphibious capabilities.
"Our vehicle was designed to be fully amphibious with exceptional ground mobility and protection. Our ACV solution will provide the Marine Corps with a mature, cost-effective solution with significant growth capacity."
Under the contract, BAE will produce 16 ACV prototypes that will be tested by the USMC, beginning in the third quarter of 2016.
Work under the contract will be carried out at the company’s facilities in Quantico, Virginia; San Jose, California; and York, Pennsylvania, US.
This contract is one of two EMD contracts issued by the USMC. The other contract was awarded to SAIC.
Based on a platform developed by Iveco, BAE’s 8×8 open ocean-capable ACV is equipped with a new six-cylinder, 700HP power pack for increased power.
Capable of performing in all terrains, the ACV will feature a suspended interior seat structure for 13 embarked marines, blast mitigating positions for a crew of three, and improved survivability and force protection.
The vehicle has already undergone extensive risk mitigation testing and evaluation for swim, land mobility, and survivability capabilities.
Image: BAE Systems’ ACV 1.1 solution is an advanced 8×8 open ocean-capable vehicle. Photo: courtesy of BAE Systems.
