BAE Systems has received a $120 million contract modification from the Marine Corps for the third Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) low-rate production order, with deliveries to begin in the first quarter of 2021.

The deal covers 30 more ACVs and moves the program a step closer to a full-rate production decision.

BAE Systems’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle at the 2018 Modern Day Marine. Photo: Matthew Beinart.

“This award further validates the Marine Corps’ confidence in the vehicle’s proven capability in meeting their amphibious mission, and represents an important step toward fielding the vehicle in the Fleet Marine Force,” John Swift, BAE Systems’ director of amphibious programs, said in a statement. “The ACV is a highly mobile, survivable and adaptable platform designed for growth to meet future mission role requirements while bringing enhanced combat power to the battlefield.”

Deliveries under the LRIP orders are for the personnel carrier variant of the ACV, which is built to carry 13 Marines and transporting Marines for ship to shore for land operations. 

The Marine Corps has said it will go with a family of vehicles approach built around three additional variants, a turreted version (ACV-30), a command and control platform (ACV-C) and a recovery variant (ACV-R). 

BAE Systems told Defense Daily in September it has started soliciting offerings to find an unmanned weapon system for the ACV-30, with plans to award up to three contracts to evaluate options (Defense Daily, Sept. 17). 

Three ACV-C vehicles are set to be delivered to the Marine Corps late next summer, and another three ACV-30 vehicles will be delivered after officials have evaluated integration of the unmanned turret system late next year. 

Swift has said the Marine Corps is still working through requirements for ACV-R, with plans likely to be finalized at least two years down the road.