US DoD Awards BAE Systems Contract for New US Marines ACV-R Recovery Amphibious Vehicles.

On April 4, 2024, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) announced a significant contract modification awarded to BAE Systems Land & Armaments LP to allocate additional funds for the procurement of three production representative test vehicles for the ACV recovery (ACV-R) variant in the U.S. Marines news ACV Amphibious Combat Vehicles, alongside the necessary test support.
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Artist rendering of BAE Systems Amphibious Combat Vehicle Recovery (ACV-R) variant. (Picture source BAE Systems)

The focus on the ACV-R Recovery variant follows a critical contract awarded in March 2022, where BAE Systems was tasked with the design and development of the ACV-R under a $34.9 million contract. This first phase of the program, spanning 20 months, was dedicated to the initial design and engineering efforts for the ACV-R, setting the stage for the second phase that includes delivering production test vehicles for user evaluations.

The ACV program, a key component of the Marine Corps' amphibious assault capability enhancement, encompasses several variants designed for specific operational needs. These include the ACV-Personnel (ACV-P) for troop transportation, the ACV-Command (ACV-C) for command and control operations, and the ACV-Recovery (ACV-R) for maintenance and recovery tasks. Each variant is tailored to offer increased mobility, survivability, and flexibility across various amphibious operations.

The Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) program of the U.S. Marine Corps represents a key modernization effort to upgrade its amphibious assault capabilities, replacing the legacy Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAVs) with a new generation of more capable, survivable, and versatile vehicles. Designed to operate from ship to shore and over a wide range of terrains, the ACV program includes several variants tailored for different roles, such as troop transportation (ACV-P), command and control (ACV-C), and recovery operations (ACV-R). Each variant is equipped with advanced armor, weapon systems, and mobility features to enhance the operational effectiveness of Marine amphibious units, ensuring they remain prepared to respond to contemporary and future challenges in amphibious warfare.

Particularly, the ACV-R variant is poised to replace the legacy Assault Amphibious Vehicle recovery variant (AAVR7A1), marking a significant upgrade in the U.S. Marine Corps recovery and maintenance capacity. The ACV-R, which is based on the chassis of the standard ACV but without turret, will be equipped with a crane mounted on the top of the hull for recovery operations. For self-protection, it will be armed with one 7.62mm machine gun. T

The ACV-R is designed to provide direct field support, maintenance, and recovery services to the ACV family of vehicles, thereby enhancing the operational readiness and effectiveness of the Assault Amphibian companies and battalion within the Marine division.

By integrating the ACV-R variant into its amphibious combat vehicle fleet, the U.S. Marine Corps reaffirms its commitment to maintaining a robust and versatile amphibious assault force. This upgrade signifies a pivotal enhancement in the Marines' capability to conduct modern amphibious operations, ensuring they remain equipped to tackle the evolving challenges of contemporary warfare.

Defense News April 2024