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         Congressional Research Service
~ Informing the legislative debate since 1914


                                                                                          Updated May 2, 2025
The Marine Corps' Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)


Background
The Marine Corps describes the Amphibious Combat
Vehicle (ACV) as

    The  Corps' next-generation vehicle designed to
    move  Marines  from ship to shore (Figure  1).
    Designed to replace the Corps' aging Amphibious
    Assault Vehicle (AAV), which has been in service
    since 1972, the ACV will be the primary means of
    tactical mobility for the Marine infantry battalion at
    sea and ashore (Figure 2). The ACV will have the
    capability to provide organic, direct fire support to
    dismounted infantry in the attack.
There are currently four ACV variants planned: (1) a
Personnel Variant (ACV-P), which can carry three
crewmembers  with 13 Marines and two days of combat
equipment and supplies; (2) a Command-and-Control
Variant (ACV-C); (3) a Recovery Variant (ACV-R); and
(4) a 30-mm Gun Variant (ACV-30). The Marines intend
for the ACV to provide effective land and tactical water
mobility (ship-to-shore and shore-to-shore), precise
supporting fires, and high levels of force protection
intended to protect against blasts, fragmentation, and
kinetic energy threats.
The ACV  program delivered initial ACV-P variants in
November  2020 and delivered initial ACV-C variants in
FY2022. Plans call for delivery of Improved Lethality
30-mm  Gun Variant ACVs in FY2025 and Recovery
Variants in FY2026.


-e 1. ACV in Ship-to-Shore Mode


Source: https://www.detensenews.com/tralning-sim/2UL4/U5/2U/
amphibious-combat-vehicles-first-deployment-may-yield-repair-
lessons/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utmcampaign=
mil-ebb, accessed May 21, 2024.


Figure 2. ACV Ashore


Source: https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/multimedia/amphibious-
combat-vehicle- I - I -acy-1-1-, accessed February 3, 2021.

Program Status
In June 2018, the ACV entered Low-Rate Initial Production
(LRIP) with BAE Systems selected for the first 30 vehicles
to be delivered in fall 2019. In November 2020, the ACV
achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC). In December
2020, a Full-Rate Production (FRP) decision was reportedly
made by the Marine Corps after having been delayed from
September 2020 due to issues related to Coronavirus
Disease 2019. The current planned acquisition objective of
632 ACVs  is to replace AAVs in Assault Amphibian
Battalions. The previous acquisition objective of 1,122
ACVs  was reduced in accordance with Marine Corps Force
Design modernization efforts (see CRS Insight IN11281,
New  U.S. Marine Corps Force Design Initiative: Force
Design 2030, by Andrew Feickert).

Full-Rate Production  Contract
On March  6, 2023, BAE reported it had received its third
full-rate production ACV contract for $256.8 million.
Under this contract, BAE is to produce both ACV-P and
ACV-C  variants. BAE reports ACV production and support
is to take place at BAE locations in Stafford, VA; San Jose,
CA; Sterling Heights, MI; Aiken, SC; and York, PA.

ACV-30   Variant Delivered
Reportedly, BAE delivered its ACV-30 variant to the
Marines in February 2024 for government testing. The
ACV-30  is to be equipped with a stabilized, medium-
caliber, remote-controlled turret system produced by the
Norwegian company  Kongsberg.

ACV Amphibious Operational Mishaps
Reportedly, on July 19, 2022, two ACVs were involved in
accidents while training off the coast of California during
high surf conditions. According to the Marines, One ACV
tipped onto its side in the surf zone and another became
disabled during the training. Marines in both ACVs
conducted their immediate action drills and safely returned
to shore. After the incidents, the Marines suspended ACV
amphibious operations while an internal review was
conducted.


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