BAE’s Next-Gen Amphibious Combat Vehicle Ready for Maritime Operations

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By Kris Osborn – President & Editor-In-Chief, Warrior Maven

The new Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle is now operational and preparing to deploy from US Navy big-deck amphibs from miles off-shore into hostile territory, a long-anticipated development expected to bring commanders an unprecedented ability to both travel from ship to shore and extend penetrating land-attack deep into enemy territory.

Amphibious Combat Vehicle

The Corps is going to deploy its new BAE Systems-built ACV as a way to bring new assault strategy and tactics into the modern era. The new amphibious attack ship-to-shore combat vehicle, is intended to massively expand mission length for amphibious assaults well beyond the current AAV – Corps Amphibious Assault Vehicle.

The new configuration is aligned with an emerging Navy-Marine Corps amphibious assault strategy which, among other things, sees a possible need for extended penetration into land defenses after an initial beachhead is taken.

The new vehicle is designed for long-range sea-land combat operations; it uses ocean water to cool the engine so as to enable it to carry up to 200 gallons of fuel – enough for a 365-mile mission. While the new ACV can travel roughly 13 miles through water, at about six knots, from ship to shore, it can hit speeds of 60mph on land for hundreds of miles inland.

Unlike existing tracked AAVs, the new ACVs are 8X8 wheeled vehicles engineered for greater speed, maneuverability and survivability on land. By removing the need for torsion bars, a wheeled-vehicle such as the ACV can build a v-shaped hull for additional protection, speed and combat durability, BAE Systems developers said.