BAE Systems (IVECO's partner in the project) has delivered the first 8x8 amphibious combat vehicles (ACVs) to the Marines.
The ACV, troop transport version, will be equipped with the RWS (Remote Weapons System) which mounts a 2x12,7 mm M-99HB machine gun and a 47x40 mm Mk-53 automatic grenade launcher; the combat version will instead be armed with a 44x30 mm Mk-173 remote turret.
According to the technical specifications issued by BAE, the ACV can carry 13 marines in the rear compartment (seven seats on one side and six on the other), while the crew consists of three people (pilot, arms officer and commander of the vehicle ). Alternatively, the new amphibious vehicle could carry 3.300 kg of material.
Certainly lower numbers compared to the predecessor AAV-7A1 (also supplied to our Projection Force from the Sea), which could carry up to 25 marines, however the ACV offers significantly superior performance from the point of view of protection and mobility, both in water than on sandy ground. In fact, the ACV can move in water at a speed of 6 knots with sea state 3. On land, it reaches a maximum speed of 105 km / h (the engine develops a power of 700 hp).
The height from the ground and the V-shaped hull allow the vehicle to better resist IED and mine explosions, in addition all the personnel on board sit on energy absorbing seats, such as those installed on MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles .
As for our Projection Force from the Sea, the need is 130 vehicles (to contain costs they could be acquired in the same configuration chosen by the Marine Corps). The DPP (Multiannual Planning Document) of Defense for the two-year period 2020-2022 does not allocate funds to the VBA (Armored Vehicle Amphibious), however, the program could benefit from 206 million euros from the Fund for Central Administrations.
Photo: US Marine Corps
