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Updated March 13, 2023
The Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)
Background
The Marine Corps describes the Amphibious Combat
Figure 2. Amphibious Combat Vehicle Ashore
Vehicle (ACV) as:
... 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), which has been 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 have the
capability to provide organic, direct fire support to
Source: https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/multimedia/amphibious-
dismounted infantry in the attack.
combat-vehicle-1-1—acv-1-1-, accessed February 3, 2021.
There are currently four ACV variants planned: (1) a
Current Program Status
Personnel Variant (ACV-P), which can carry three
crewmembers with 13 Marines and two days of combat
In June 2018, the ACV entered Low-Rate Initial Production
equipment and supplies; (2) a Command and Control
(LRIP) with BAE Systems selected for the first 30 vehicles
to be delivered in fall 2019. In November 2020, the ACV
Variant (ACV-C); (3) a Recovery Variant; and (4) a 30-mm
Gun Variant. The Marines intend for the ACV to provide
achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC). In December
effective land and tactical water mobility (ship-to-shore and
2020, a Full-Rate Production (FRP) decision was reportedly
made by the Marine Corps after having been delayed from
shore-to-shore), precise supporting fires, and high levels of
force protection intended to protect against blasts,
September 2020 due to issues related to Coronavirus
fragmentation, and kinetic energy threats.
Disease 2019. The current planned acquisition objective of
632 ACVs would replace AAVs in Assault Amphibian
The ACV program delivered initial ACV-P variants in
Battalions. The previous acquisition objective of 1,122
November 2020 and delivered initial ACV-C variants in
ACVs was reduced in accordance with Marine Corps Force
Design 2030 modernization efforts (see CRS Insight
FY2022. Plans call for delivery of Improved Lethality 30-
mm Gun Variant ACVs in FY2025 and Recovery Variants
IN11281, New U.S. Marine Corps Force Design Initiatives,
in FY2026.
by Andrew Feickert).
Figure 1. Amphibious Combat Vehicle in
Full-Rate Production Contract
Ship-to-Shore Mode
Om March 6, 2023, BAE reported it had received its third
full-rate production ACV contract for $256.8 million.
Under this contract, BAE will produce both ACV Personnel
and ACV Command variants. BAE reports ACV
production and support is taking place at BAE locations in
Stafford, VA; Jose, CA; Sterling Heights, MI; Aiken, SC;
and York, PA.
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
Source: https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/multimedia/amphibious-
allow for Ful -Rate Production (FRP) upon completion of
combat-vehicle-11-acv-11, accessed February 3, 2021.
Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E).
Full-Rate Production (FRP) is a decision made that allows
for government contracting for economic production
quantities fol owing stabilization of the system design and
validation of the production process.
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The Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)
Initial Operational Testing Observations
ACV Resumes Amphibious Operations
During Marine Corps initial operational test and evaluation
On September 23, 2022, the Marines resumed ACV
(IOT&E) conducted from June to September 2020, the
operations in the open ocean. In addition, the Marines
Department of Defense Director of Operational Test and
implemented new rules for surf conditions, noting, “The
Evaluation (DOT&E) noted:
interim maximum surf conditions identified include a
significant breaker height of four feet, which allows the
The ACV demonstrated water mobility and the ability to
ACV to operate safely while maintaining a high-state of
self-deploy from the beach, cross the surf zone, enter the
readiness for the ACV community.”
ocean, and embark aboard amphibious shipping. The
infantry rifle company equipped with the ACV was able
FY2024 ACV Budgetary Information
to deploy from amphibious shipping, maneuver on the
beach, and conduct subsequent offensive and defensive
Table 1. FY2024 Navy Budget Request—ACV
operations ashore.
Total
While the ACV demonstrated good operational
Total Request
Request
availability and maintainability during IOT&E, it did
Funding Category
($M)
(Qty.)
not meet its 69-hour mean time between operational
RDT&E
$103.2
—
mission failures (MTBOMF) threshold. The
Procurement
$557.6
80
government-furnished Remote Weapons System
(RWS)—an internally controlled, exterior-mounted MK
Source: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
(Comptrol er)/Chief Financial Officer, Program Acquisition Cost by
19 automatic grenade launcher or M2 .50 caliber heavy
Weapon System: United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year
machine gun was the source of the largest number of
2024 Budget Request, March 2023, p. 3-11.
operational mission failures (OMFs).
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test & Evaluation: $M =
The ACV accommodated three crew and 13 embarked
U.S. dollars in mil ions; Qty. = FY2024 procurement quantities.
infantry. Due to the placement and number of blast
mitigating seats, interior space within the ACV is
Considerations for Congress
limited, making rapid ingress and egress difficult.
Oversight questions Congress could consider include the
following:
Infantry Marines noted that the troop seats were not
contoured to fit body armor configurations, leading to
ACV Amphibious Limitations?
discomfort during long-range ship-to-objective
As a result of a Marine internal review following two July
missions.
2022 ACV mishaps, it appears the Marines have decided to
limit ACV amphibious operations when breaker height
Reportedly, the Marines initiated corrective actions after the
exceeds four feet. Does this new guidance preclude ACV
DOT&E report was published. In September 2021, the
amphibious operations in surf zone conditions where
Marines suspended amphibious use of the ACV due to
breaker height exceeds four feet, or are there supplemental
towing mechanism problems. In November 2021, the
operational procedures that permit ACV operation in high
Marines began testing modifications to the towing
surf zone conditions? If ACV amphibious operations are
mechanism in order to resume amphibious operations once
restricted to four feet or less breaker height, how might this
the problem was rectified. Reportedly, in early 2022 after
affect the conduct of amphibious operations during a
fixing the towing mechanism, the Marines began
conflict?
amphibious operational training with ACVs, including crew
certification and training on a number of new safety-related
Lessons Learned from the Ukraine Conflict
procedures.
There are a number of military observations emerging from
ACV Amphibious Operational Mishaps
the current Ukraine conflict. One observation is Russian
armored vehicles have allegedly proven highly vulnerable
Reportedly, on July 19, 2022, two ACVs were involved in
to anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). As ACVs are
accidents while training off the coast of California during
intended to “provide organic, direct fire support to
high surf conditions. According to the Marines, “One ACV
dismounted infantry in the attack,” how vulnerable to
tipped onto its side in the surf zone and another became
ATGMs are ACVs that are operating ashore supporting
disabled during the training. Marines in both ACVs
combat operations? Are the Marines considering ACV
conducted their immediate action drills and safely returned
survivability modifications based on lessons learned in
to shore.” After the incidents, the Marines suspended ACV
Ukraine?
amphibious operations while an internal review was
conducted.
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
IF11755
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The Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)
Disclaimer
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11755 · VERSION 7 · UPDATED