Transmissions Allison Specialty Series™ will set up the new generation of US Navy amphibious vehicles (ACV 1.1). The contract, worth 400 millions of dollars for the first four years, was won last June by BAE Systems, which used the support of Iveco Defense Vehicles, a leading provider of integrated and protected mobility solutions. The first order of the Marine Corps is 30 vehicles, with future options for a total of 204 new amphibians.
Iveco has chosen the reliability and technology of Allison fully automatic transmissions. The collaboration between Allison Transmission and Iveco Defense Vehicles has already generated technologically advanced means for the Spanish army and now for the American Marines.
On the other side of the ocean, the relationship between Allison Transmission and the US military has lasted for over a century and has gone from the supply of aircraft engines in the 20 years to that of automatic transmissions for special rubberized and tracked vehicles, transmissions that allow a significant reduction in the training time of the operators.
The ACV 1.1 is an advanced ocean-going 8 × 8 vehicle, featuring a new 700hp six-cylinder engine optimized for matching with the Allison 4800SP ™ transmission. The military vehicle offers best-in-class mobility on all terrains and has an internal structure capable of accommodating 13 Marines, as well as increased survival protection over current systems.
The first 16 prototypes were delivered already last year to allow Marines to evaluate the performance of amphibious vehicles. During this period, the Iveco / BAE team, together with Allison engineers, supported the Marines assessment by conducting numerous tests on risk situations, on water operations and on land mobility. Vehicle performance has achieved excellent results.
Transmissions Allison Specialty Series™ are dedicated to military applications and exceptional transport (HET) and ensure maximum reliability and durability. "The 8x8 wheeled vehicle is an absolutely avant-garde vehicle. A concentrate of technology that, during the experimentation phase, has led to new know-how"Says Simona Pilone, OEM Account Manager of Allison Transmission. "No special adaptation to the Allison transmission was necessary. However, some adaptations from a functional and electronic integration point of view have been developed"
The Allison transmission is the most suitable for military vehicles because drivers must focus solely on the mission, since the reduction of cognitive stress is essential. The Allison driver interface allows to minimize the deconcentration elements - gear changes and commands included - allowing to dedicate energy to the real task to be performed.
Not only that, Allison transmissions, thanks to Continuous Power Technology™ - the technology that allows continuous transmission of power from the engine to the wheels - they have excellent performance and guarantee greater acceleration. The powershifting also allows greater fluidity of driving, precise traction control and better maneuverability - even on difficult or rough terrain and at low speeds.
In emergency situations, these are decisive benefits. Situations in which Allison's fully automatic transmissions can make the difference and it is no coincidence that they continue to be the choice of choice in this sensitive and strategic sector.