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Amphibious Combat Vehicle

The Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) is a family of eight-wheeled, amphibious armored vehicles developed by for the , designed as the primary tactical mobility platform to transport from ship to shore and support operations across diverse terrains, replacing the aging Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) with superior protected mobility, survivability, and lethality. Initiated in the early to address limitations in the AAV's water speed, armor, and electronics, the ACV program underwent competitive prototyping, with selected as the prime contractor in June 2018 following successful engineering and manufacturing development. The vehicle's modular design allows for multiple variants, including the ACV-P (personnel carrier) that accommodates 13 combat-loaded plus 3 crew members, the ACV-C (command variant) with workstations for battle staff and a for self-defense, the ACV-R (recovery variant) for maintenance roles, and the ACV-30 armed variant equipped with a 30mm for support, expected to achieve initial operational capability in 2026. Key specifications include a gross of approximately 35 tons (32 metric tons), a capacity of up to 7,280 pounds (3,302 ), an overall of 361 inches (9.2 meters), width of 124 inches (3.1 meters), and height of 114 inches (2.9 meters). Powered by a 700-horsepower , the ACV achieves speeds exceeding 65 mph (105 km/h) on paved roads, over 45 mph (72 km/h) on open dirt roads, and more than 6 knots (11 km/h) in water, enabling high-speed amphibious assaults and sustained operations ashore. The program entered low-rate initial production in 2019, with initial fielding to units beginning in November 2020 and operational debut during exercises in 2024; by September 2025, over 300 vehicles had been delivered, supporting ongoing modernization efforts and integration into Marine Expeditionary Units for enhanced command and control, mobility, and in contested environments.

Development

Program origins and requirements

The ' Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV-7A1), which entered service in 1972, had exceeded 50 years of operational use by 2025, resulting in substantial maintenance demands, parts obsolescence, and diminished reliability. These age-related issues were compounded by safety concerns, including the July 2020 sinking off that killed eight Marines and one Navy sailor due to water ingress and inadequate training protocols. Operationally, the AAV-7A1 suffered from shortfalls in land speed (limited to about 30 mph), water speed (around 7 mph), troop protection against mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and payload capacity for modern equipment, while lacking robust command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance () integration. In the early 2000s, the Marine Corps sought to address these deficiencies through the Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV) program, initiated in 2000 and redesignated as the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) in 2003, with requirements for a land speed of 45 mph (72 km/h), water speeds of up to 25 knots (46 km/h) for over-the-horizon operations, capacity for 13 Marines plus three crew members, enhanced mine/IED resistance via V-hull design and spaced armor, and integration of advanced sensors and networking. The EFV aimed to provide a leap in amphibious capability but faced persistent technical hurdles, including engine failures and hull cracking during testing. Ultimately, the program was canceled in January 2011 after expending approximately $3 billion, primarily due to unaffordable unit costs exceeding $24 million each, poor reliability (averaging under 100 mean miles between operational mission failures), and evolving operational priorities emphasizing distributed littoral operations over high-speed surface assault. Following the EFV cancellation, the Marine Corps revised its amphibious vehicle requirements in 2012 to prioritize affordability, modularity, and compatibility with emerging concepts like the framework, shifting away from the EFV's emphasis on extreme water speeds toward balanced ship-to-shore mobility and enhanced survivability ashore. The resulting (ACV) program focused on a wheeled platform with open-system architecture for rapid upgrades, full interoperability, and reduced logistical footprint compared to tracked designs. Key performance thresholds included a combat weight under 35 tons (32 metric tons), land speed of at least 25 mph, water speed of 6-8 mph for stern launches from amphibious ships, and capacity for 13 plus three crew in the baseline personnel carrier configuration, alongside improved underbelly protection against blasts. The ACV development was structured incrementally to manage risk and costs: Increment 1.1 (Phase 1, approved in 2014) emphasized a basic troop carrier with protected mobility on land and minimal swim capability from ships like the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, while Increment 1.2 (Phase 2, initiated in 2017) incorporated command-and-control, 30mm gun, and anti-tank variants with enhanced water propulsion for self-recovery and longer-range swims. This phased approach drew from the 2011 Initial Capabilities Document and a 2011 Request for Information (RFI) that solicited industry concepts for low-to-medium water-speed options. Further refinement came via an April 2014 RFI for Increment 1.1 and studies by the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory evaluating distributed amphibious tactics, which informed the program's alignment with force design priorities through 2018.

Competition and prototype phase

In April 2014, the U.S. Marine Corps issued a (RFI) for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) Increment 1.1, seeking industry input on potential designs to meet amphibious assault requirements, with formal solicitation documents released in April 2015. Initial competitors included , , (SAIC), , and others, each proposing wheeled or tracked configurations based on commercial or modified platforms. Lockheed Martin's entry, the Havoc 8x8, was a variant of the Finnish , while SAIC focused on a Terrex-based design, and BAE emphasized an 8x8 wheeled vehicle derived from the for enhanced reliability in both land and water operations. On November 24, 2015, the Marine Corps downselected BAE Systems and SAIC, awarding contracts valued at $103.8 million and $121.5 million, respectively, to produce 16 prototypes each—totaling 32 vehicles—for competitive evaluation. These prototypes were delivered between late 2016 and early 2017, with BAE rolling out its first vehicle in December 2016 at its York, Pennsylvania facility. The designs prioritized an 8x8 wheeled configuration to balance mobility, payload, and maintainability, accommodating 13 Marines plus a crew of three, with a combat weight around 30 tons. Testing commenced in March 2017 across multiple sites, including the Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch at Camp Pendleton, California; , ; and Aberdeen Test Center, , evaluating 12 operational prototypes (six from each vendor, with spares). Land mobility trials demonstrated speeds exceeding 65 mph on roads and off-road performance through varied terrain, while amphibious assessments confirmed surface swim capabilities at approximately 7 mph in surf conditions up to Sea State 3 and limited submerged operations. Survivability testing included live-fire evaluations against 14.5mm armor-piercing rounds and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), with the vehicles showing improved protection over the legacy AAV through modular armor and underbelly blast mitigation, though exact ballistic limits remained classified. BAE's SuperAV-based prototype highlighted reliability, completing thousands of mobility miles with fewer mechanical issues compared to tracked alternatives. The competitive evaluation in 2017 assessed over 100 test events, focusing on , , and , leading to the elimination of SAIC's in early 2018 due to performance shortfalls in swim reliability and challenges. On June 19, 2018, the Marine Corps awarded a $198.4 million contract for Engineering and Manufacturing (), including 30 low-rate initial production vehicles, with options up to 204 units totaling $1.2 billion. Early challenges included prototype costs exceeding initial estimates—rising from a planned $118 million total to $225.3 million for the 32 vehicles due to refinements—and difficulties integrating features for potential unmanned operations, such as and . These issues were mitigated through iterative testing, ensuring the program's progression without major delays.

Selection and engineering development

In June 2018, the United States Marine Corps selected as the prime contractor for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) program following competitive prototype evaluations, awarding a $198 million low-rate initial production (LRIP) Lot 1 contract for 30 vehicles to transition the design from engineering prototypes to operational units. This selection emphasized refinements to enhance reliability, payload capacity, and amphibious performance while incorporating a modular open-systems architecture with a digital backbone to support future upgrades and variant integration without major redesigns. From 2019 to 2020, engineering development focused on rigorous testing of engineering and manufacturing development () prototypes and early LRIP vehicles at sites including Camp Pendleton and the , achieving key Initial Operational Capability (IOC) goals such as sustained ship-to-shore mobility and troop transport for 13 plus three crew. Notable advancements included optimization of waterjet propulsion systems for reliable swim speeds exceeding 8 knots (approximately 9 mph), enabling effective amphibious assaults from over-the-horizon distances, and initial integration with Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) command-and-control networks for enhanced . These efforts built on the program's to accommodate variants like recovery and command configurations. Subsequent efforts through 2025 focused on integrating advanced variants like the ACV-30, with IOC planned for 2026. Early challenges with swim mode reliability, including a towing mechanism failure identified in operational assessments, led to a temporary suspension of waterborne operations in September 2021; these were addressed through targeted redesign and validation testing, restoring full amphibious certification by early 2022. The successful Operational Assessment in 2018 paved the way for LRIP approval, culminating in the IOC declaration on , 2020, and the delivery of the first ACVs to units for in late 2020, with an initial of 18 vehicles handed over in October 2020. The overall EMD phase, encompassing prototype development for both competing contractors, totaled approximately $225 million, underscoring the program's emphasis on cost-effective for long-term adaptability.

Design

Mobility and amphibious features

The Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) employs an 8×8 wheeled chassis derived from the platform, optimized for versatile operations across land and water environments. This configuration includes systems on all wheels, enabling high ground clearance and adaptability to rough . The vehicle's dimensions are approximately 9.2 meters in length, 3.1 meters in width, and 2.9 meters in height, with a combat weight ranging from 30 to 35 metric tons depending on the installed and . On land, the ACV is powered by a B6.7 six-cylinder, turbocharged producing 690 horsepower, paired with a seven-speed that delivers all-wheel drive traction. This setup allows for a top speed exceeding 105 km/h (65 mph) on roads and the ability to climb gradients greater than 60% while traversing side slopes over 30%. The vehicle can up to 1.5 meters deep without preparation, supported by its robust system and . Additional performance includes a curb-to-curb of approximately 11 meters and from 0 to 48 km/h in under 15 seconds, facilitating rapid maneuvers in dynamic combat scenarios. Amphibious capabilities are enhanced by a planing aluminum and twin waterjet systems, which provide a surface swim speed of up to 11 km/h (6 knots), with a retractable improving low-speed maneuvering in , allowing the ACV to from amphibious ships more than 10 nautical miles to the beach. The baseline personnel variant accommodates 13 plus 3 crew members, with sufficient for sustained operations. Fuel capacity supports a land range exceeding 523 km at economical speeds and a water range of 12 nautical miles.

Protection and armament systems

The Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) employs a composite armor system, combining steel appliqué plates with an underlying aluminum hull, to deliver ballistic protection against small arms fire and artillery fragments. This armor configuration balances weight and survivability for amphibious operations while allowing for modular add-on kits to enhance protection as needed. Additionally, the vehicle's V-hull design deflects blast energy from underbody explosions, providing resistance to mines and improvised explosive devices. Active protection capabilities may be integrated as future upgrades through the ACV's modular architecture to intercept incoming anti-tank guided missiles and rocket-propelled grenades. features, such as jammers, further mitigate threats from remote-detonated improvised explosive devices and swarms. These systems integrate seamlessly with the vehicle's modular architecture to maintain amphibious performance without significant penalties. The baseline armament for the ACV consists of a remote weapon station (RWS) mounted on the roof, typically equipped with either the .50 caliber for anti-personnel and light engagements or the Mk 19 40mm automatic grenade launcher for area suppression. This setup provides 360-degree firing capability with stabilized optics for day/night operations. The platform's design includes a modular that supports future integration of more potent weapons, such as a 30mm , without requiring major structural modifications. Crew survivability is prioritized through blast-attenuating seats that absorb shock from under-vehicle explosions, reducing injury risk to the three-person crew and up to 13 embarked . A chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) system maintains a sealed with positive internal pressure to filter contaminants. Enhanced is achieved via a 360-degree suite of cameras, thermal sensors, and displays, enabling the driver and to monitor surroundings in low-visibility conditions or during networked operations. The ACV's facilitates command, control, communications, computers, intelligence (C4I) integration, supporting real-time data sharing with joint forces through standardized interfaces and software upgrades. This ensures compatibility with evolving networks, allowing the vehicle to receive threat updates and share sensor feeds dynamically.

Variants

In-service variants

The Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) program has two primary in-service variants fielded with the (USMC): the personnel carrier (ACV-P) and the command and control variant (ACV-C). Both share an wheeled designed for high mobility on land and in water, providing baseline ballistic and mine/ protection to enable ship-to-shore assaults and sustained operations ashore. The ACV-P serves as the primary infantry carrier, capable of transporting 13 combat-loaded plus three crew members in a dedicated troop compartment, while supporting ship-to-shore and objective-to-objective movements. It entered service in late 2020, with initial deliveries commencing in November of that year, and achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) on November 13, 2020. By September 2025, over 300 ACV-P vehicles had been delivered to USMC units, enabling their integration into amphibious operations. Planned procurement includes approximately 390 ACV-P vehicles. The ACV-C functions as a mobile (C2) node, equipped with multiple workstations for up to four operators, enhanced communication antennas, and internal servers for battle management systems to support Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) coordination. Initial deliveries began in 2022, with the variant entering service in 2023 and achieving IOC on October 8, 2024. It replaces legacy C2 platforms by providing armored, amphibious tactical echelons for or regimental command posts. Planned procurement includes approximately 33 ACV-C vehicles. Both variants are assigned to USMC Assault Amphibian Battalions, such as the , for task-organized units conducting personnel and equipment transport from amphibious ships to shore. Production remains in low-rate initial production for ACV-C, while full-rate production for the ACV family, including ACV-P, was approved in December 2020 and continues with ongoing contracts as of 2025.

Developmental and planned variants

The ACV-30 variant, designed for direct fire support, features a remotely operated armed with the XM915 30mm medium-caliber , providing enhanced lethality for support while maintaining amphibious capabilities. Developmental testing of the ACV-30 occurred throughout 2024, leading to operational testing in the second quarter of 2025, with low-rate initial beginning via a awarded in April 2025, followed by full-rate contracts in August 2025; initial deliveries are anticipated in late 2025 or early 2026, with IOC targeted for the third quarter of 2026. Planned includes approximately 175 ACV-30 vehicles. The , supplied by , supports hunter-killer targeting and integration with anti-tank missiles, and the platform's modular architecture allows for future incorporation of active protection systems to counter incoming threats. The ACV-R recovery variant is being developed to replace the legacy AAVR7A1, equipping Assault Amphibian units with capabilities for field maintenance, towing, and repair of disabled vehicles using an integrated crane and winch system. A development contract was awarded to BAE Systems in 2023, followed by a $79 million modification in April 2024 for prototype production, with production-representative test vehicles scheduled for delivery in 2025 and initial operational capability targeted for the first quarter of fiscal year 2028. Planned procurement includes approximately 9 ACV-R vehicles. This variant emphasizes modularity to ensure compatibility with the baseline ACV chassis, enabling rapid deployment in expeditionary environments for recovery operations. Experimental efforts have focused on integrating command, control, communications, computers, and unmanned (C4/UAS) into the ACV platform to enhance and . In and 2023, conducted tests integrating small uncrewed aerial systems from onto an ACV C4/UAS prototype, demonstrating real-time data collection and control for long-endurance scouting missions. These integrations leverage the vehicle's open to support unmanned operations, including concepts for autonomous maneuvers where ACVs could operate semi-autonomously to reduce crew exposure in contested littoral zones. Early testing in validated the C4/UAS suite's ability to ingest and process multi-domain sensor data, paving the way for broader unmanned applications. Development of these variants faces challenges related to integration costs and maintaining with the core ACV , as adding specialized systems like turrets, recovery equipment, or UAS interfaces requires balancing enhanced functionality against affordability and sustainment burdens. The modular open systems approach adopted for the ACV family aims to mitigate these issues by standardizing interfaces, but ongoing engineering efforts are needed to control lifecycle expenses while ensuring seamless upgrades.

Production and procurement

Contracts and production phases

In June 2018, following the competitive downselect, was awarded the initial Low-Rate Initial (LRIP) Lot 1 valued at $198 million for 30 ACV Personnel (ACV-P) vehicles, marking the transition from prototype development to . This included options for up to 204 vehicles, with the total potential value reaching $1.2 billion if all exercised. The LRIP phase continued from 2018 to 2023 across three lots, totaling 116 ACV-P vehicles, with production focused on testing reliability and manufacturability. Representative awards during this period included a $113.5 million in February 2020 for 26 additional ACV-P vehicles and a $256.8 million in March 2023 for 44 vehicles comprising both variants. Overall LRIP costs exceeded $700 million, emphasizing incremental scaling to refine production processes before full-rate commitments. The program received Milestone C approval in June 2018, entering low-rate initial production. Full-rate production was approved in December 2020, enabling larger-scale with aiming for 632 vehicles across variants by the . The first Lot 1 contract was awarded in December 2020 for 36 ACV-P vehicles at $184 million, followed by subsequent lots such as a $188.5 million award in April 2025 for 30 ACV-30mm vehicles equipped with remote turrets. In August 2025, received a $181 million contract modification for 31 additional ACV-30 vehicles, bringing the total ACV-30 ordered to 91. As of 2023, unit costs were approximately $5.3 million for ACV-P and $7.4 million for specialized variants like ACV-C, contributing to a cumulative program expenditure surpassing $2 billion through 2025. Turret integration advanced, while secured a separate $329 million full-rate production agreement in November 2024 for 175 Protector Remote Turret units. The ACV has drawn export inquiries from U.S. allies seeking modern amphibious capabilities, but no international sales had been completed as of 2025.

Deliveries and operational status

The Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) program began delivering prototypes and engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) vehicles to the U.S. Marine Corps in late 2020, with the first 18 ACV-P personnel carrier variants handed over in October of that year following initial testing. By December 2023, 184 ACVs had been fielded to the and the Assault Amphibian School. Low-rate initial production (LRIP) deliveries totaled 116 ACV-P vehicles by late , transitioning to full-rate production () lots thereafter. In 2025, FRP deliveries accelerated, reaching a milestone with the 300th ACV produced and delivered in September. With over 300 vehicles delivered as of September 2025, this fleet expansion supported the full transition from the legacy Assault Amphibian Vehicle (AAV), following the AAV's official retirement ceremony on September 26, 2025, at Camp Pendleton, . As of late 2025, ACVs are primarily assigned to the 1st and 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalions within the 1st Marine Division, with the 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion receiving initial allocations for integration. Maintenance and sustainment operations are centered at Camp Pendleton, where the Assault Amphibian School conducts routine servicing and training. Recent 2025 reports highlight safety enhancements, including improved waterjet propulsion reliability, with no major incidents recorded since initial fielding. The program is projected to achieve full operational capability (FOC) in 2027, ahead of some variant-specific milestones like the ACV-R recovery variant in FY2028. A May 2025 report confirmed the program remains on track, with plans for 204 additional ACVs by FY2026, including the first operational ACV-30 units. Early challenges with waterjet components were resolved by mid-2025 through diversified sourcing, ensuring continued production momentum.

Operational history

Introduction and training

The Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) entered service with the United States Marine Corps following its declaration of Initial Operational Capability (IOC) on November 13, 2020, marking the program's transition from development to operational use. This milestone, approved by the Marine Corps' Capabilities Development Directorate, enabled the initial fielding of the ACV Personnel variant (ACV-P) to the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, beginning in early 2021. The ACV was designed to replace the aging Assault Amphibian Vehicle (AAV), providing enhanced mobility for ship-to-shore movements while supporting the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) in expeditionary operations. Early fielding focused on land-based training to build operator proficiency before expanding to full amphibious capabilities. Training for ACV operators and maintainers is conducted primarily at the Assault Amphibian School, , , through specialized courses such as the Amphibious Combat Vehicle Basic Crewmember Course and certification programs developed by the Amphibious Combat Vehicle Transition Training Unit. These curricula emphasize safe vehicle operation on land and in water, including swim operations, emergency procedures afloat, preventive maintenance of the vehicle, weapons systems (such as the M2 .50-caliber and MK-19 40mm via the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station), and communications equipment. Instruction also covers tactical employment, with a focus on networked operations to integrate the ACV within unit formations. Simulator-based training, including the Amphibious Combat Vehicle Driver Training System (ACV-DTS), allows to practice amphibious scenarios such as surf-zone transits in a , reducing risks during live exercises and accelerating proficiency for entry-level operators. courses, such as the Operators Certification Course, typically span about 25 days and ensure personnel meet physical standards, including Water Survival Intermediate swim qualifications, before assignment to operational units. The ACV's integration into Marine Corps doctrine has involved updates to MAGTF publications to support distributed operations, emphasizing the vehicle's role in expeditionary advanced base operations alongside assets like the (JLTV) for overland mobility and MV-22 tiltrotors for vertical assault. These changes align the ACV with initiatives, enabling smaller, more agile units to conduct littoral maneuvers in contested environments by leveraging the vehicle's networked features for real-time coordination. Early milestones included prototype training for personnel starting in late 2020, with initial waterborne certifications achieved by mid-2023 after addressing surf transit challenges. By late 2023, over 180 ACVs had been fielded to the , equipping a full for operational readiness. Each ACV operates with a three-person —driver, vehicle commander, and gunner—representing a reduction in manpower compared to the AAV's four-person , which allows for more efficient force structure in distributed scenarios.

Deployments and incidents

The Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) entered its initial operational deployments in 2024, with the first overseas use occurring during Exercise 24 in the in May, where units from the employed ACVs for ship-to-shore assaults, demonstrating enhanced mobility and command capabilities in a multinational setting. Later that year, integrated ACVs into operations, receiving the vehicles at Military Port in , Japan, in to support forward-deployed forces across the region. In 2025, key exercises further validated the ACV's performance, including the ACV Ship-to-Land Vehicle (SLV) Integration Exercise in January, where prototypes were tested in contested maritime environments alongside Japanese forces in , emphasizing seamless transitions from sea to shore. The platform also integrated with U.S. Navy amphibious ships, such as the (LSD 49), during ship-to-shore maneuvers off Okinawa in June 2024 and subsequent operations, enabling distributed force projections. Early incidents highlighted swim mode challenges, with two ACVs disabled by heavy surf during training off on July 19, 2022, prompting a temporary pause in waterborne operations to address reliability; no injuries occurred, and the issues were resolved through interim guidance updates by October 2022. Additional minor events, including four vehicle rollovers in surf zones that year, saw crews safely evacuate and swim to shore, leading to refined operational protocols. No combat losses have been recorded to date. A safety review in early 2025 affirmed the ACV's improvements over the legacy , noting enhanced stability and reduced mishap risks in leadership assessments. The ACV plays a pivotal role in distributed maritime operations, providing rapid response capabilities for littoral maneuver, protected mobility ashore, and integration with expeditionary advanced bases to counter peer threats in the . Its first deployment to occurred in July 2025 during joint exercises in , where ACVs executed beach landings with the , marking a in allied amphibious . Looking ahead, following the Assault Amphibious Vehicle's retirement in October 2025, the ACV is slated for full incorporation into rotations starting in 2026, ensuring sustained amphibious assault readiness.

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