USMC set to choose two ACV bidders later this year

[Zarvan]

Among the five bidders is a team of BAE Systems and Iveco, with a version of the Superav. Source: IHS/Patrick Allen
Key Points

• Two solutions are to be chosen from offerings by ADVS, BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and SAIC
• ACV 8x8 armoured personnel carriers are meant to 'swim' some distance to shore, and USMC leaders say prototype trials so far have proven that capability

The US Marine Corps (USMC) will soon downselect two designs for its Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme, and the prospective next USMC commandant is sanguine about the prototypes' in-water capabilities.

Lieutenant General Robert Neller, currently head of US Marine Corps Forces Command and the nominee to become USMC commandant, defended the USMC's plan to use a slower waterspeed vehicle in lieu of the erstwhile high-speed Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.

The marines "extensive open-ocean and surf zone testing of various prototype 8x8 armoured personnel carriers" contributed to the ACV requirements and the USMC's overall modernisation strategy, he told Congress during his 23 July confirmation hearing.

Based on testing so far, Lt Gen Neller said he is "confident that at least two contractors will be capable of delivering prototypes with the capacity to achieve water mobility performance on par with or greater than our existing assault amphibian [the AAV7A1 Assault Amphibious Vehicle] along with the capabilities needed for the landward portion of the ACV mission profile". The AAV7A1 has an 8.2 mph (13.2 km/h) maximum water speed, according to IHS Jane's Land Warfare Platforms .

The USMC has said it would take up to two contractors through a development phase.

The five proposed designs for ACV have come from Advanced Defense Vehicle Systems (ADVS), a relatively small company from Michigan; BAE Systems and Iveco with a version of the Superav; General Dynamics with a variant of its Piranha; Lockheed Martin offering a yet-unknown bid (it originally teamed with Patria Land Systems to offer a variant of the AMV called Havoc but separated earlier this year); and STK and SAIC with a version of the Terrex.

USMC spokesman Manny Pacheco on 23 July told IHS Jane's that in the first quarter of fiscal year 2016 (FY 2016), likely around November, the corps would downselect to two bidders.

Lawmakers asked if Lt Gen Neller was concerned that the "four foreign designs" for ACV would be capable enough when 'swimming' in the water, and he noted that "only two of the five proposed designs for ACV 1.1 are based on foreign designs" and again referred to successful water mobility tests. Presumably he was referring to the Italian Superav and Singaporean Terrex as the two foreign designs.

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USMC set to choose two ACV bidders later this year - IHS Jane's 360