The United States Marine Corps has awarded BAE Systems’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle Family of Vehicles program a $184 million contract for 36 vehicles. The vehicle is an advanced vehicle for conducting ship-to-shore operations.
BAE has a defense division in Sterling Heights, and some of the vehicles will be made there.
The full-rate production milestone comes shortly after the Marine Corps declared the vehicle had met the requirements for initial operational capability on Nov. 13.
“As the ACV enters into service it will be providing highly advanced solutions for conducting maritime-based warfare operations and will play a vital role in the Marine Corps’ complex and challenging missions,” says John Swift, director of amphibious programs at BAE Systems. “For BAE Systems, full-rate production validates years of dedication and teamwork in partnership with the Marines to introduce this capability to the warfighter and leave our adversaries on the battlefield at a marked disadvantage. We are proud of our role in the program.”
The vehicle is a highly mobile, survivable, and adaptable platform for conducting full spectrum ship-to-shore operations and brings enhanced combat power to the battlefield. It has a force protection capability three times greater than the Assault Amphibious Vehicle and provides increased horsepower with its six-cylinder, 690 horsepower engine, making it capable of land speeds exceeding 55 miles per hour. It is also designed to provide flexibility through its modular design.
This first lot of full-rate production is planned to grow to 72 vehicles in early 2021, with the options calling for 80 vehicles annually over five years.
BAE Systems is under a $67 million contract modification awarded in June 2019 to develop new variants for the ACV Family of Vehicles program to enhance battlefield situational awareness and firepower. The contract calls for the design and development of the command and the 30mm medium caliber cannon variants. Design and development efforts have begun on both.
Production and support for the vehicle are also taking place at BAE Systems locations in Virginia, California, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
