BAE Systems Secures $184 Million Marine Corps Contract for Expanded Amphibious Combat Vehicle Production

WASHINGTON : The U.S. Marine Corps has awarded BAE Systems a $184 million contract for the production of 30 additional Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs), reinforcing the service’s ongoing effort to modernize its amphibious assault capabilities. The award, formally designated Full-Rate Production (FRP) 6A, is part of the previously approved Lot 5/6 agreement and increases total orders of the ACV-30 variant to more than 100 vehicles.

The latest procurement reflects growing confidence in the ACV program as the Marine Corps continues to phase out the legacy Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV), which has been in service for decades but faces limitations in survivability, mobility, and modernization potential.

Designed for Modern Amphibious Warfare

The Amphibious Combat Vehicle is engineered to operate across a wide range of environments, from open-ocean ship-to-shore assaults to complex inland combat missions. The platform is capable of transporting Marines, mission-critical equipment, and varied payloads, while offering enhanced armor protection and mobility compared with its predecessor.

A key feature of the ACV-30 is its compatibility with advanced weapons systems, most notably a 30-millimeter cannon turret developed by Kongsberg. The turret significantly boosts the vehicle’s direct-fire lethality, enabling Marine units to provide organic fire support during amphibious landings and follow-on operations ashore.

Rebecca McGrane, Vice President of Amphibious Programs at BAE Systems, said the vehicle’s adaptability has been proven across multiple operational scenarios. She emphasized that the ACV’s ability to integrate advanced weaponry, including the 30mm cannon, ensures Marines are prepared to respond to threats anywhere in the world.

Production Sites and Systems Integration

Work on the newly awarded vehicles will be conducted at BAE Systems facilities in Johnstown and York, Pennsylvania, with additional systems integration activities taking place at the Naval Warfare Information Center in Charleston, South Carolina. The Charleston site will support government-led integration and testing of the Kongsberg 30mm turret, a critical step in delivering fully mission-ready ACV-30 platforms to the Marine Corps.

In addition to the ACV-30, BAE Systems is under contract for other variants within the program, including the ACV-Personnel (ACV-P) and ACV-Command (ACV-C) configurations. The company has also completed and delivered three ACV-Recovery production representative test vehicles, which are intended to provide battlefield recovery, maintenance, and repair support for Marine amphibious units.

BAE Systems’ Expanding Role in U.S. Defense Modernization

The Marine Corps contract adds to BAE Systems’ growing portfolio within the U.S. defense sector. In 2024, the US Army continued to rely on the company for the production and upgrade of the M109A7 Paladin self-propelled howitzer, a cornerstone of the Army’s artillery modernization strategy. BAE Systems also received additional funding for the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) program, which is replacing outdated M113 platforms across armored brigade combat teams.

Looking ahead to 2025, the company anticipates further collaboration with the US Navy, particularly in the production of advanced laser-guided Precision Kill Weapon System kits for U.S. forces and allied partners.

As the Marine Corps continues to reshape its force around expeditionary and littoral operations, the expanding Amphibious Combat Vehicle fleet is emerging as a cornerstone capability, providing a modern, adaptable, and heavily protected platform built to meet the demands of future high-intensity conflicts.