BAE Systems, which is based in Virginia and operates a large manufacturing and technical center in Sterling Heights, has received a $120 million contract from the U.S. Marine Corps for additional amphibious combat vehicles under a third order for low rate initial production. The award is a step on the path to full-rate production.
The contract is for the amphibious combat vehicle personnel carrier variant, an eight-wheeled amphibious assault vehicle capable of transporting troops from open-ocean ship to shore and conducting land operations. Each embarks 13 people in addition to a crew of three.
“This award further validates the Marine Corps’ confidence in the vehicle’s proven capability in meeting their amphibious mission and represents an important step toward fielding the vehicle in the Fleet Marine Force,” says John Swift, director of amphibious programs at BAE Systems. “The ACV is a highly mobile, survivable, and adaptable platform designed for growth to meet future mission role requirements while bringing enhanced combat power to the battlefield.”
More variants of the vehicle will be added under full rate production to include the command and control, 30mm medium caliber turret, and recovery variants under the ACV Family of Vehicles program. BAE previously received the Lot 1 and Lot 2 awards.
The Marine Corps selected BAE along with teammate Iveco Defense Vehicles for the program in 2018 to replace its legacy fleet of assault amphibious vehicles, which have been in service for decades and were also built by BAE.
Production and support of the vehicles will take place at BAE locations in Sterling Heights, Virginia, California, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
