WASHINGTON, — June 06, 2026 : The United States has approved a $30.6 million Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Italy involving the transfer of seven specialized Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAVs) from former U.S. Marine Corps inventories. The U.S. Department of State cleared the proposed sale on June 5, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen Italy’s amphibious command, control, and maintenance capabilities.
The package includes three AAVC-7A1 command variant vehicles and four AAVR-7A1 recovery variant vehicles configured to the advanced Reliability, Availability, Maintainability/Standardization to Reliability (RAM/RS) modernization standard. The procurement does not include any AAVP-7A1 troop-carrying variants.
In addition to the vehicles, the package includes radar-scattering camouflage netting kits, specialized support equipment, unclassified technical manuals, and associated logistics support. U.S. officials stated that the sale is intended to improve Italy’s ability to address current and future operational requirements while maintaining a sustainable expeditionary force. The State Department also noted that the transaction will not alter the military balance in the region.
Focus on Command and Recovery Assets
The acquisition is designed to address capability gaps in Italy’s amphibious support structure rather than expand troop transport capacity. Italy currently operates an amphibious fleet of approximately 35 AAVs distributed between the Italian Navy’s Brigata Marina San Marco and the Italian Army’s Lagunari Regiment “Serenissima.”
Before the approval of the sale, Italy’s inventory consisted of 29 AAVP-7A1 assault vehicles, three AAVC-7A1 command vehicles, and two AAVR-7A1 recovery vehicles. Troop-carrying variants represented more than 82 percent of the fleet, while command and recovery vehicles accounted for a much smaller share.
This fleet structure resulted in approximately one command vehicle for every 9.7 assault vehicles and one recovery vehicle for every 14.5 assault vehicles. Military planners identified the limited number of specialized support platforms as a potential operational constraint, as the loss or mechanical failure of a command or recovery vehicle could significantly affect amphibious operations.
The addition of three command vehicles will increase Italy’s command fleet from three to six vehicles, representing a 100 percent increase. The acquisition of four recovery vehicles will expand recovery assets from two to six vehicles, a 200 percent increase. The changes are intended to improve operational redundancy, command coordination, and vehicle sustainment during amphibious missions.
Troop Transport Capacity Remains Unchanged
Italian defense planners determined that additional troop-carrying vehicles were not required because existing transport capacity already meets operational needs. Each AAVP-7A1 can carry a crew of three and up to 21 embarked Marines.
With 29 troop carriers currently in service, Italy retains the ability to transport up to 609 personnel during a single amphibious lift operation, providing sufficient capacity for battalion-sized deployments. The vehicles are also capable of operating in sea conditions up to Sea State 5, offering substantial amphibious capability for expeditionary operations.
By focusing on command and recovery variants rather than assault vehicles, the procurement strengthens the support architecture necessary to sustain and coordinate amphibious forces without increasing overall lift capacity.
Vehicles Sourced from Retired U.S. Marine Corps Fleet
The vehicles being transferred originate from U.S. Marine Corps inventories following the service’s retirement of the tracked AAV platform. The Marine Corps officially completed the transition away from the AAV fleet in 2025 after more than five decades of service, replacing it with the wheeled Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV).
The retirement created an opportunity for allied nations to acquire surplus vehicles and integrate them into existing force structures. For Italy, the acquisition provides a cost-effective means of enhancing specialized amphibious capabilities while maintaining compatibility with its current AAV fleet.
Support for NATO Amphibious Operations
The proposed sale is expected to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of Italy’s amphibious forces by strengthening command-and-control functions and expanding vehicle recovery capacity during expeditionary operations. The procurement also supports broader efforts to enhance NATO interoperability, allied readiness, and amphibious capabilities in the Mediterranean region.
Following State Department approval, the transaction will proceed through the standard U.S. congressional notification and review process before final implementation.
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