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Updated May 21, 2024
The Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)
Background
The Marine Corps describes the Amphibious Combat
Figure 2. ACV 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 (ACV-R); and
(4) a 30-mm Gun Variant (ACV-30). The Marines intend
achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC). In December
for the ACV to provide effective land and tactical water
2020, a Full-Rate Production (FRP) decision was reportedly
made by the Marine Corps after having been delayed from
mobility (ship-to-shore and shore-to-shore), precise
supporting fires, and high levels of force protection
September 2020 due to issues related to Coronavirus
intended to protect against blasts, fragmentation, and
Disease 2019. The current planned acquisition objective of
kinetic energy threats.
632 ACVs would replace AAVs in Assault Amphibian
Battalions. The previous acquisition objective of 1,122
The ACV program delivered initial ACV-P variants in
ACVs was reduced in accordance with Marine Corps Force
Design 2030 modernization efforts (see CRS Insight
November 2020 and delivered initial ACV-C variants in
FY2022. Plans call for delivery of Improved Lethality
IN11281, New U.S. Marine Corps Force Design Initiative:
Force Design 2030, by Andrew Feickert).
30-mm Gun Variant ACVs in FY2025 and Recovery
Variants in FY2026.
Full-Rate Production Contract
Figure 1. ACV in Ship-to-Shore Mode
On 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-P and
ACV-C variants. BAE reports ACV production and support
is taking place at BAE locations in Stafford, VA; San Jose,
CA; Sterling Heights, MI; Aiken, SC; and York, PA.
ACV-30 Variant Delivered
Reportedly, BAE delivered its ACV-30 variant to the
Marines in February 2024 for government testing. The
ACV-30 is to be equipped with a stabilized, medium-
caliber, remote-controlled turret system produced by the
Norwegian company Kongsberg.
Source: https://www.defensenews.com/training-
sim/2024/05/20/amphibious-combat-vehicles-first-deployment-may-
Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) is a programmatic
yield-repair-
decision made when manufacturing development is completed
lessons/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=
and there is an ability to produce a small-quantity set of
mil-ebb, accessed May 21, 2024.
articles. It also establishes an initial production base and sets
the stage for a gradual increase in the production rate to
allow for Ful -Rate Production (FRP) upon completion of
Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E).
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)
Furnished Equipment (GFE), and Integrated
Full-Rate Production (FRP) is a decision made that allows
for government contracting for economic production
Logistics Support (ILS).
quantities fol owing stabilization of the system design and
Reduction in Planned FY2025 and
validation of the production process.
FY2026 ACV Procurement Quantities
Reportedly, the Marines are reducing “procurement plans
ACV Amphibious Operational Mishaps
for FY2025 and FY2026, reducing acquisition quantities by
Reportedly, on July 19, 2022, two ACVs were involved in
48 vehicles across the two years due to spending caps under
the Fiscal Responsibility Act, inflation, and a higher-than-
accidents while training off the coast of California during
expected vendor proposal.”
high surf conditions. According to the Marines, “One ACV
tipped onto its side in the surf zone and another became
disabled during the training. Marines in both ACVs
The Navy’s FY2025 budget request notes,
conducted their immediate action drills and safely returned
FY2025 reductions in quantities from 104 to 80 are
to shore.” After the incidents, the Marines suspended ACV
due to a fiscally constrained environment because
amphibious operations while an internal review was
of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, increased
conducted.
inflationary pressures, and a higher than anticipated
vendor proposal for Full Rate Production Lots 5-6.
ACV Resumes Amphibious Operations
These factors result in a loss of buying power to
On September 23, 2022, the Marines resumed ACV
procure the number of vehicles in previous budget
operations in the open ocean. In addition, the Marines
submission for FY2025 and FY2026. The program
implemented new rules for surf conditions, noting, “The
was fully funded to procure the Approved
interim maximum surf conditions identified include a
significant breaker height of four feet, which allows the
Acquisition Objective (AAO). However, due to 1)
ACV to operate safely while maintaining a high-state of
the loss of $102 million from the FRA across
readiness for the ACV community.”
FY2025 and FY2026, 2) the effects of inflationary
increases, and 3) a much higher than anticipated
ACV’s First Overseas Deployment
vendor proposal, the programs vehicle procurement
Reportedly, the ACV made its first overseas operational
has been reduced by a total of 48 vehicles across
deployment during the May 2024 Exercise Balikatan 24 in
FY2025 - FY2026.
the Philippines. ACVs carrying Marines from the 15th
Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) from Camp Pendleton,
Considerations for Congress
CA, launched from ships, transited the surf zone, and
Oversight questions Congress could consider include the
conducted live fire exercises ashore. Reportedly, the
following:
Marines plan to use the ACV’s first deployment to
determine if extended operations from a ship provide new
Program and Readiness Impact of Reduced FY2025
lessons on maintaining and operating the ACV.
and FY2026 ACV Procurement
The reduction in the production of 48 ACVs over FY2025
FY2025 ACV Budgetary Information
and FY2026 raises a number of issues. From a program
perspective, will the acquisition of these 48 vehicles be
Table 1. FY2025 Navy Budget Request—ACV
made up post-FY2026, or does this represent a decrease in
Total
overall ACV acquisition numbers? Will the reduction have
Total Request
Request
cost implications for future ACV acquisition, and how
Funding Category
($M)
(Qty.)
could this affect current program costs and production
RDT&E
$60.2
—
plans? In terms of readiness, will having 48 fewer ACVs in
FY2025 and FY2026 have an appreciable readiness impact
Procurement
$810.3
80
on Fleet Marine Forces and, if so, how do the Marines plan
Source: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
to compensate for this lack of capability?
(Comptrol er)/Chief Financial Officer, Program Acquisition Cost by
Weapon System: United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2025
Lessons Learned from the Ukraine Conflict
Budget Request, March 2024, p. 3-12.
There are a number of military observations resulting from
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test & Evaluation: $M =
the Ukraine conflict. One observation is armored vehicles
U.S. dollars in mil ions; Qty. = FY2025 procurement quantities.
have allegedly proven highly vulnerable to anti-tank guided
missiles (ATGMs), armed drones, and loitering munition.
According to the Department of Defense Program FY2025
As ACVs are intended to “provide organic, direct fire
Acquisition Cost by Weapon System, the ACV FY2025
support to dismounted infantry in the attack,” how
budget request is intended to
vulnerable to these systems are ACVs during amphibious
Initiate the production of 80 Improved Lethality
operations and when operating ashore supporting combat
30mm cannon variants (ACV-30s), procure related
operations? Are the Marines considering ACV survivability
items such as Production Support, Systems
modifications based on lessons learned in Ukraine?
Engineering/Program
Management
(SE/PM),
Engineering Change Orders (ECOs), Government
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
IF11755
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)
Disclaimer
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11755 · VERSION 13 · UPDATED