https://crsreports.congress.gov
Updated May 18, 2022
The Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)
Background
According to the Marine Corps:
The Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) is 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 – 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 possess ground mobility
and speed similar to the M1A1 tank during
sustained operations ashore and have the capability
to provide organic, direct fire support to dismounted
infantry in the attack. The ACV will support
expeditionary mobility capability and capacity with
balanced levels of performance, protection and
payload.
There are currently four ACV variants planned: (1) a
Personnel Variant (ACV-P), which can carry three crew
members with 13 Marines and two days of combat
equipment and supplies; (2) a Command and Control
Variant (ACV-C); (3) a Recovery Variant; and (4) a 30-mm
Gun Variant. 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 Variants in FY2025 and Recovery Variants in
FY2026.
Figure 1. Amphibious Combat Vehicle in
Ship-to-Shore Mode
Source: https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/multimedia/amphibious-
combat-vehicle-11-acv-11, accessed February 3, 2021.
Figure 2. Amphibious Combat Vehicle Ashore
Source: https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/multimedia/amphibious-
combat-vehicle-1-1—acv-1-1-, accessed February 3, 2021.
Current 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 would replace AAVs in Assault Amphibian
battalions. The previous acquisition objective of 1,122
ACVs was reduced in accordance with Marine Corps Force
Design 2030 modernization efforts (see CRS Insight
IN11281, New U.S. Marine Corps Force Design Initiatives,
by Andrew Feickert). Reportedly, ACV production is to
take place at BAE Systems facilities in Virginia, California,
Michigan, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) is a programmatic
decision made when manufacturing development is completed
and there is an ability to produce a small-quantity set of
articles. It also establishes an initial production base and sets
the stage for a gradual increase in the production rate to
allow for Full-Rate Production (FRP) upon completion of
Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E).
Full-Rate Production (FRP) is a decision made that allows
for government contracting for economic production
quantities following stabilization of the system design and
validation of the production process.
