USMC Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) Programme

[Ayoshi]

YouTube video: ACV Ground Modernization

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IHS Jane's 360 | 25 January 2015

The US Marine Corps (USMC) is assessing industry responses to the second of two draft requests for proposals (RfPs) for an eight-wheeled amphibious combat vehicle (ACV) optimised for land operations and shoreline tactical mobility.

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Four industry teams are understood to be in contention, each proposing modified variants of off-the-shelf 8x8 armoured infantry carriers in service elsewhere: BAE Systems/Iveco (with their SuperAV vehicle), General Dynamics (LAV 6.0), Lockheed Martin/Patria (Havoc), and SAIC/ST Kinetics (Terrex II).

Having seen previous attempts to procure a replacement for its elderly Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAVs) thwarted by cost and performance requirement challenges, the USMC expects its current plans for an affordable ACV - costing no more than USD5 million apiece - to achieve initial operational capability in 2020 and full operational capability in 2023.

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Once ACV 1.1 developmental and operational testing is completed, the USMC will downselect to a single contractor in the second quarter of FY 2018 to meet the approved acquisition objective of 204 vehicles, comprising 56 low-rate initial production (LRIP) vehicles with options for the full rate production (FRP) of 148 vehicles.

The Integrated Program Plan includes an LRIP Lot 1 requirement for 26 vehicles in standard personnel carrier configuration (plus four vehicles for live-fire lethality and survivability trials). LRIP Lot 2 (FY 2019) will see the construction of 30 ACVs, with FRP Lots 1, 2, and 3 adding 30, 80, and 38 vehicles, respectively, in FY 2020, FY 2021, and FY 2022.

Future plans include the procurement of 490 enhanced ACV 1.2 vehicles, reintroducing an organic over-the-horizon ship-to-shore capability and, in the longer term, an all-new ACV 2.0 intended for high-speed surface transit.

Meanwhile, the legacy AAVs will undergo an upgrade programme extending their lives to 2035; thereafter ACVs alone will provide the amphibious lift capability for 12 marine battalions.

The BAE Systems/Iveco SuperAV vehicle is one of the candidates for a US Marine Corps programme seeking an eight-wheeled amphibious vehicle optimised for land and shoreline operations. Source: BAE Systems

[Ayoshi]

BAE Systems rolls out first ACV prototype | IHS Jane's 360 - 14 December 2016

BAE Systems partnered with Italian truck manufacturer Iveco Defence to submit a vehicle driven by a six-cylinder, 700 hp FPT Industrial Cursor 16 engine and with a suspended interior seat structure for 13 embarked marines, the company has said.

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SAIC partnered with Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK) to submit STK's Terrex 2, which includes a v-shaped hull and space to carry 11 marines with a crew of three (to add additional room to carry two more marines would have required a redesign and added weight that the company deemed unnecessary).

BAE Systems and Iveco teamed up for the USMC's ACV competition. The vehicle has no axel, so it can distribute power among the eight-wheel stations. Source: IHS/Geoff Fein

[Ayoshi]

BAE Systems to supply 30 more ACV 1.1 Amphibious Combat Vehicles to USMC | Army Recognition - 12 December 2018 16:33

The new ACV 1.1 is a wheeled amphibious combat vehicle and not a tracked as the AAV which is in service with the U.S. marine Corps since many years. The U.S. Marines have operated a fleet of more than 1,000 AAVs over the years. While the ACV 1.1 is supposed to excel at all-terrain mobility, with a 1.2 version expected to add additional speed and capacity, and a notional ACV 2.0 envisioned swim at speeds of at least eight knots at sea amid three-foot waves with waves as large as three feet.

In December 2016, BAE Systems delivered 16 amphibious combat vehicle 1.1 prototypes. The ACV 1.1 of BAE Systems is an 8x8 amphibious platform based on an existing vehicle provided by Iveco Defence Vehicles, the IVECO Super AV. It can carry a total of 13 military personnel including driver and commander. The vehicle is equipped with a robust 700HP engine, providing a significant power increase over the Assault Amphibious Vehicle currently operated by the Marine Corps.

A blast resistant V-shape hull and energy absorbing seats are key elements of the ACV 1.1 survivability solution that delivers superior mine, improvised explosive device (IED), kinetic energy (KE), and overhead protection. The vehicle can operate with a wheel blown off.

Each ACV has a crew of three, an M2 .50-caliber machine gun in a remote weapons station, with the potential to install a stabilized dual-mount M2/Mark 19 grenade launcher turret.

BAE Systems ACV 1.1, the new combat vehicle of the USMC (Picture source: Army Recognition)

[Ayoshi]

https://www.janes.com/article/89520/usmc-moves-out-on-two-new-acv-variants

USMC moves out on two new ACV variants
26 June 2019

BAE Systems, along with its partner, Iveco Defence Vehicles, announced on 25 June that they had received a USD67 million contract modification to design a new ACV variant with a 30 mm medium caliber cannon (ACV-30), as well as a command and control (ACV-C) variant that incorporates seven work stations to provide situational awareness and control of the battlespace.

[Ayoshi]

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/usmc-pressing-on-with-acv-production

11 June 2020 00:00 GMT+0
USMC pressing on with ACV production

The US Marine Corp (USMC) is moving ahead with the next phase of its Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme after its Force Design 2030 overhaul ‘affirmed’ the need for the platform on the future battlefield.

In late May, the service awarded BAE Systems Land and Armaments with an USD11 million contract for phase two of the design and development for the ACV 30 mm gun variant (ACV-30).

The USMC is moving ahead with production of its ACV fleet, and recently awarded BAE Systems with a contract for its ACV 30 mm gun variant (pictured here). (BAE Systems )