US Marines Tests New ACV-30 Armored Fighting Vehicle with Kongsberg's RT-20 Turret.

On April 30, 2024, the new Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV-30), currently being tested by the U.S. Marine Corps, incorporates a major innovation: the PROTECTOR RT-20 remote turret developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. This integration marks a key milestone for the ACV program, with BAE Systems serving as the primary contractor since 2018.

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 US Marines ACV-30 Armored Fighting Vehicle with Kongsberg's Protector RT-20 Turret (Picture source: Kongsberg)

The first production representative test vehicle (PRTV) of the ACV-30, equipped with a 30mm cannon, was delivered by BAE Systems earlier this year. The ACV-30 is the third variant in the ACV vehicle family, designed to meet the specific needs of both marine and land operations through its amphibious capabilities and enhanced mobility.

Jørgen Bull, Vice President of Land Systems at Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, emphasized the significance of the RT-20 turret in enhancing the firepower of the Marine Corps. "The PROTECTOR RT-20 is a modern, remotely operated turret with high precision firepower, suitable for wheeled, tracked, and robotic combat vehicles. Its modularity and digitalization offer the potential to incorporate new technologies to deter and defeat future threats," Bull stated.

The RT-20 turret not only enhances lethality but also improves protection, allowing for the transportation of more troops or essential equipment while reducing vehicle weight for better mobility. This system eliminates the need for an internal basket, typical of traditional turret systems, thus freeing up vital space inside the vehicle.

Garrett Lacaillade, Vice President of the amphibious vehicles product line at BAE Systems, underscored the importance of this advancement. "Providing capabilities like the ACV-30 to the Marine Corps is crucial in an ever-evolving battlefield," said Lacaillade. "Our collaboration with Kongsberg on this PRTV allows our client to test a modern and lethal firepower technology on the battlefield."

The ACV-30, part of BAE Systems’ broader strategy to offer amphibious vehicles capable of high-sea operations and land mobility, is essential for meeting the evolving operational needs of Marines worldwide.

Operated remotely from within the safety of the vehicle, the RT20 enhances crew protection by minimizing exposure to external threats. It features an innovative linkless ammunition handling system, more reliable than traditional link-fed systems, and allows for reloading under armor, thus preserving the integrity of the crew’s protective environment. By eliminating the internal basket usually required for turret operations, the RT20 frees up precious space inside the vehicle for additional troops or mission-essential equipment and reduces the overall weight of the vehicle to improve mobility.

The RT20 benefits from a high-tech fire control system that automatically adjusts for various ballistic factors such as firing angle, inclination, swivel, and vehicle movement, facilitating precise targeting in complex combat scenarios. Its network-based fire control architecture enables wireless operation, which is particularly beneficial for unmanned or robotic vehicle applications.

As part of Kongsberg's Integrated Combat Solution (ICS), the RT20 turret supports advanced features such as automated precision Hunter-Killer operations and enables target sharing among vehicles, enhancing the operational effectiveness of the equipped marine units.