BAE Systems rolled out the first of 16 Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) 1.1 prototypes to the U.S. Marine Corps in a ceremony today at the company’s York, Pennsylvania facility.
BAE Systems’ ACV 1.1 offering is a fully amphibious, ship-launchable and ship-recoverable 8×8 wheeled combat vehicle.
“BAE Systems has a long-standing legacy of supporting the Marine Corps’ amphibious mission,” said John Swift, the company’s director for the ACV 1.1 program.
“That expertise, coupled with the hard work of our dedicated ACV team, has allowed us to deliver the first of these vehicles ahead of schedule.”
(The optimum balance of sea and land mobility, survivability and payload – a true, no-compromise 8×8 amphibious platform. Courtesy of BAE Systems and YouTube)
BAE Systems’ solution for ACV 1.1 leverages an existing platform provided by Iveco Defence Vehicles. It is highly effective at sea when compared to any other amphibious vehicle in production today, providing superior land mobility and state-of-the-art systems survivability.
“As the Marine Corps begins testing we are confident that the capabilities of these vehicles will be proven,” Swift said.
The BAE Systems solution balances the Marine Corps’ demands for an affordable, production-ready platform with added designs for increased force protection, water and land mobility, lethality, transportability, and survivability.
BAE Systems’ ACV 1.1 is equipped with a robust 700HP engine, providing a significant power increase over the Assault Amphibious Vehicle currently operated by the Marine Corps.
The vehicle excels in all-terrain mobility and has a suspended interior seat structure for 13 embarked Marines, blast protected positions for an additional crew of three, and improved survivability and force protection over currently fielded systems.
The Marine Corps awarded BAE Systems a $103.7 million contract for the Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development (EMD) phase of the ACV 1.1 program in November 2015, one of two EMD contracts issued.
During this phase, the company is producing 16 prototypes that will be tested by the Marine Corps starting in the first quarter of 2017.
BAE Systems’ Commitment to the Corps
Their mission? To be “a force in readiness.”
Our promise? To remain at the forefront of innovation to ensure that no matter the threat, we support the Marines Corps’ efforts to remain nimble, rapidly deployable, and prepared.
Since World War II, we’ve provided critical support to the United States Marine Corps (USMC). From our amphibious vehicles to our electronic warfare systems, explore the ways we’ve assisted the Corps when the order has come to “Send in the Marines!”
Vehicle Support
AAV
In 1941, we began the production of the Landing Vehicle Tracked to support the needs of the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII. In 1984, the Marines renamed the Landing Vehicle Tracked following a series of upgrades. Its name?
The Assault Amphibious Vehicle, or AAV. As the original equipment manufacturer of the AAV, we have performed upgrades since the introduction of AAV7A1s in 1984 to include improved firepower, applique armor packages, and command, control, and repair capabilities.
The AAV has earned a reputation for rugged durability and superior mobility as it transports Marines and cargo from ship to shore.
ACV
In 2015, our company was awarded one of two contracts to produce prototypes for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) program.
The company, along with teammate IVECO Defence Vehicles, will deliver a solution that will be built from the ground up to be an amphibious vehicle and will provide significant capability improvements to satisfy the USMC’s current and future needs.
Our solution has already undergone extensive testing including water and land mobility, ship launch and recovery, and survivability. The vehicles are currently in production at our York, Penn. facility.
HERCULES
With its ability to hoist, winch and tow today’s heaviest combat vehicle, it’s no wonder the M88A2 was given the name HERCULES.
This 70-ton capable recovery system, which was designed and built at our York, Pa., site, is perhaps most known for its use by Marines to pull down the statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad on April 9, 2003.
Today, HERCULES provides critical capability as a vehicle recovery system.
MRAP
During the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, BAE Systems supplied the Marines with three of the five Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) variants – the Caiman, the RG31 and the RG33.
Designed and produced by our company, the RG-33 MRAP variant is known for its V-shaped hull which deflects mine blasts away from the vehicle enabling it to be one of the most effective counters to Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
With “all-terrain suspension and runflat combat tires,” the MRAP allows Marines to navigate complex terrains.
Weapons Support
M777
Like the Marine Corps, the M777 lightweight towed howitzer is designed to be rapidly deployable.
This howitzer, known as the world’s first 155mm howitzer weighing less than 10,000 lbs, enables Marine artillery units to move faster between positions as it can be moved and re-deployed by air, land, and sea.
Designed and manufactured by our company, the M777 was selected by the Corps and the U.S. Army as their next-generation medium force weapon.
APKWS
What has the ability to turn a 2.75 unguided rocket into a precision laser-guided rocket?
Our APKWS laser-guided rocket, which was sent to Afghanistan with Marines after it achieved initial operational capability in March 2012.
Since then, Marine operators have flown with an APKWS laser-guided rocket as part of their everyday kit – primarily on the AH-1 and UH-1 platforms.
Air Support
Electronic Warfare
Built on a foundation of more than 60 years of experience, our company has emerged as the world leader in electronic warfare, flying systems on more than 80 platform variants, including the USMC’s F-35 variant.
Our AN/ASQ-239 electronic warfare system protects the F-35 with advanced technology for next-generation missions to counter current and emerging threats.
Flap Control Computer
Did you know we provide the flap control computer for the AV-8B Harrier?
Referred to by the USMC as one of the “greatest breakthroughs in aircraft technology,” the Harrier was the “first (vertical/short takeoff and landing) jet in the Marine inventory, giving MAGTF commanders new flexibility on the battlefield.”
Our flap control computer, also referred to as high lift or secondary flight controls, minimizes both take-off and landing speeds by increasing high lift and enhances aerodynamic performance under certain flight conditions.
But that’s not all we do for the Harrier; In March 2016, the U.S. Navy delivered the fixed-wing aircraft variant of our APKWS laser-guided rocket to Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223 operating the AV-8B Harrier in theater.
Remote Guardian System
With its “operational reach and maneuverability,” the MV-22 Osprey is an assault support aircraft for the Marines.
To provide this aircraft with maximum protection from threats near the landing zone, the AWG-35(V) Defense Weapon System (DWS) – the USMC’s version of our Remote Guardian System (RGS™) – gives the aircraft a critical self-defense capability.
This configurable, crew-served, night vision weapon system is located in the cabin area of the aircraft and provides suppressive fire to engage troops and light armored vehicles with a maximum sustained rate of fire.
Off the Battlefield
Analytic Gaming
Did you know we design and facilitate analytic games to help customers examine strategic, operational and tactical level planning and decision-making considerations?
Our Analytic Gaming Team has provided support to several critical exercises including the Corps’ annual Expeditionary Warrior 2016 (EW16) Wargame – a wargame series conducted annually to examine issues relating to the future of the force.
Supporting the Corps
Our commitment to supporting the USMC doesn’t end with our products and services.
We remain committed to assisting the Marines off the battlefield when it comes to organizations that support Marine families, preserve the Corps’ rich heritage, and work to build the future of the USMC.
As part of this commitment, we support a range of USMC organizations including the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, and the Marine Corps Association Foundation, among other organizations.
Guided by their motto, Semper Fidelis, or “always faithful,” Marines remain faithful to every mission, each other, the Corps and our country; and as the Corps continues to “Improvise, Adapt and Overcome” in the face of rising and new threats, we will remain committed and always faithful to the men and women of the Corps both on and off the battlefield. –
SEMPER FI!
BAE Systems has long been a trusted supplier to the Marine Corps across multiple domains and has more than 70 years of experience designing and building amphibious vehicles.
The company is also a leading provider of combat vehicles, having produced more than 100,000 systems for customers worldwide.
Iveco Defence Vehicles brings additional proven experience, having designed and built more than 30,000 multi-purpose, protected, and armored military vehicles in service today.
