US Marines with Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch, Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity, stage new Amphibious Combat Vehicles on the beach during low-light surf transit testing on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. Credit: US Marine Corps.

The US Marine Corps (USMC) has received the first amphibious combat vehicle command (ACV-C) variant from BAE Systems for testing.

The ACV-C is designed to support command and control (C2) by providing the maximum level of communications and analysis for marines on the battlefield.

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It is one of the two variants that BAE is delivering to the USMC under a 2020 full-rate production contract worth nearly $184m in December.

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

The other variant in the contract is ACV personnel carrier (ACV-P).

BAE Systems stated that FRP is also planned to include additional variants, including the 30mm medium calibre turret (ACV-30) and recovery variant (ACV-R).

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The ACV-C features multiple workstations for marine leaders to access independent communications networks while moving around the battlefield.

BAE Systems amphibious programmes director John Swift said: “This ACV’s base design for payload makes it a uniquely adaptable platform for the integration of numerous mission capability sets.

“The delivery of the first ACV-C for testing is significant as it provides marines with advanced operational control for defeating adversaries.

“Marines will be able to quickly receive and analyse data, coordinate battlefield functions, and transmit information to provide terminal mission control rapidly from the mobile protected ACV-C.”

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

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

The programme is aimed at replacing the USMC’s legacy fleet of assault amphibious vehicles (AAVs).

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