The US Marine Corps has awarded BAE Systems a substantial contract worth $184 million for the production of 30 additional Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACV). This contract, termed Full-Rate Production 6A, expands on a previous Lot 5/6 agreement, increasing the total order of ACV-30 variants to more than 100 units.
The ACV is designed to replace the aging Assault Amphibious Vehicle, engineered for versatility in a variety of environments ranging from open oceans to intricate inland terrains. It is capable of transporting Marines, essential equipment, and varied payloads while remaining adaptable for upgrades, such as the integration of a 30mm cannon turret developed by Kongsberg.
Manufacturing and integration of these vehicles will occur across facilities in Pennsylvania and South Carolina. The Naval Warfare Information Center in Charleston will play a crucial role in turret integration to enhance the vehicle’s combat capabilities.
In addition to the ACV-30, BAE Systems is already engaged in the production of personnel carrier and command variants of the ACV, along with recovery versions designed to support field maintenance and repair, particularly for marine assault amphibious units.
BAE Systems has also made significant strides in securing numerous major contracts within the US defense sector over the past couple of years. In 2024, the US Army tasked BAE Systems with continuing the production and upgrades of the M109A7 Paladin self-propelled howitzer and its associated ammunition carrier, which is a vital component of the army’s ongoing artillery modernization initiative. Furthermore, the company received additional funding for the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle program, which aims to replace outdated M113 platforms across various brigade combat teams.
Looking ahead to 2025, BAE Systems anticipates further collaborations with the US Navy, particularly regarding the production of advanced precision kill weapon system laser-guidance kits destined for US forces and allied partners.
