USMC receives first Amphibious Combat Vehicle command variant

BAE Systems has delivered an Amphibious Combat Vehicle command (ACV-C) variant to the US Marine Corps (USMC), while production and planning for three others remains in various stages.

The company is currently under contract for three variants – a personnel carrier (ACV-P), ACV-C, and a 30mm cannon (ACV-30) – with tentative plans for a future recovery variant (ACV-R). To date, the company has delivered 50 low-rate initial production (LRIP) ACV-Ps to the service and has now delivered the first ACV-C.

“The delivery of the first ACV-C is significant as it provides marines with advanced operational control for defeating adversaries,” John Swift, BAE Systems’ director of amphibious programmes, said in an 18 February statement. “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.”

Inside each ACV-C there are seven workstations for marines to manage situational awareness. These workstations are designed to access 10 independent networks for advanced digital communications while on the move.

It is now up to the USMC to begin testing out this ACV-C before ordering additional vehicles, a BAE Systems spokesperson said in a subsequent email, noting that a production award for this variant is likely two years away and will cover 30 vehicles.

An ACV heads into the water. BAE Systems recently delivered the first ACV command and control variant to the USMC. (BAE Systems )

As the service evaluates the ACV-C, additional ACV-P platforms will roll off the production line, while the remaining variants are in varying stages of production and development.