U.S. Marine Corps strengthens amphibious combat capabilities with 31 more ACV-30 troop carriers.

According to information published by BAE Systems on August 12, 2025, the company has secured a $181 million contract from the U.S. Marine Corps for the production of 31 Amphibious Combat Vehicle 30mm (ACV-30) variants. The award, designated as Full-Rate Production Lot 5C, increases the total number of ACV-30s ordered to date to 91 vehicles. Manufacturing will take place in York and Johnstown, Pennsylvania, as well as Charleston, South Carolina, with deliveries expected to continue through the fourth quarter of 2026.
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The ACV-30 combines advanced amphibious mobility with a stabilized 30mm cannon, delivering greater firepower, protection, and survivability for US Marine Corps assault operations in contested littoral environments (Picture source: BAE Systems).

The ACV program traces its origins back to 2018, when the Marine Corps awarded BAE Systems the first major contract for low-rate initial production of the baseline personnel carrier variant, the ACV-P. That initial award, valued at $198 million for 30 vehicles, marked the beginning of the Corps’ deliberate replacement of the legacy Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV7), which had suffered decades of overextension and several fatal accidents highlighting its vulnerabilities. Since then, successive contracts have expanded the program to include command and recovery variants, with the ACV-30 serving as the fire support element of the family. This “second act” of the ACV‑30 procurement builds upon its first full‑rate production (FRP) contract, awarded in April 2025, when the U.S. Marine Corps granted BAE Systems a $188 million FRP Lot 5/6 contract for 30 ACV‑30 IFVs. That award marked the first mass-production order of the medium‑caliber cannon variant, and importantly included not only vehicle units but also fielding support, spare parts, and test equipment. The move from initial production to full-rate production underscores growing confidence in the platform and the urgency of equipping Marine units with modern amphibious vehicles.

The ACV-30 is built on the 8x8 Iveco SuperAV platform adapted by BAE Systems for the U.S. Marine Corps. It weighs around 35 tons and can carry a crew of three plus up to seven Marines, maintaining high ocean-going performance with the ability to launch and recover in Sea State 3 conditions. Its most distinctive feature is the Kongsberg RT-20 remote turret armed with a stabilized 30mm Mk44S Bushmaster II cannon capable of firing programmable airburst munitions, complemented by a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. The vehicle integrates advanced modular armor packages to defeat mines, improvised explosive devices, and kinetic threats, while offering improved mobility on land through an independent hydropneumatic suspension and a powerful 700hp engine. These features combine amphibious performance with heavy fire support, making the ACV-30 a versatile asset for distributed littoral operations.

The decision to order additional ACV-30s reflects a mix of operational requirements and strategic foresight. The Marine Corps is not simply increasing fleet size for numerical parity with retiring AAVs, but rather reshaping its force structure to meet Force Design 2030 objectives. This modernization plan calls for smaller, more agile, and better armed units capable of distributed operations across vast maritime areas. Ordering more ACV-30s ensures that battalion landing teams have sufficient fire support to operate independently, while also securing industrial momentum at BAE Systems’ production sites. By maintaining steady procurement, the Marines protect their supply base, reduce per-unit costs through economies of scale, and avoid production gaps that could delay future variant deliveries.

On the battlefield, the ACV-30 provides Marines with a clear operational and tactical edge. Its remote 30mm cannon, capable of firing armor-piercing and airburst munitions, allows it to defeat light armored vehicles, entrenched positions, and infantry in cover at ranges exceeding 2 kilometers. Unlike the legacy AAV, which was primarily a troop transport, the ACV-30 enables embarked Marines to fight their way ashore under armored protection while supporting dismounted operations with precision fire. The vehicle’s improved hull design enhances mine and IED resistance, and its ocean-going mobility enables launch and recovery in higher sea states, expanding the window for amphibious assaults. Together, these enhancements significantly improve survivability and lethality, making the ACV-30 a force multiplier in joint and coalition littoral operations.

This contract award also needs to be understood against the backdrop of an evolving global security environment. The United States faces simultaneous challenges from peer competitors, with China expanding its naval and amphibious capabilities in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, while Russia continues to destabilize Eastern Europe through its aggression against Ukraine and military posturing along NATO’s eastern flank. In both theaters, rapid deployment and the ability to seize and hold littoral terrain are seen as critical capabilities. The ACV family directly supports the Marine Corps’ Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) concept, designed to establish forward positions in contested zones and complicate adversary planning. By fielding more ACV-30s, the Marines are not only modernizing their force but also signaling to allies and rivals alike that U.S. amphibious forces remain a credible and adaptive deterrent.