The U.S. Marine Corps ordered 30 ACV-30 amphibious infantry fighting vehicles for $184.4 million within the 2026 fiscal year budget. Thus, production of this equipment, which only recently went into full-scale series production, is reaching full capacity.
So, the new contract is an addition to a larger deal that with all options will cost up to $3.86 billion and will be executed until 2028. Also included are costs for deployment, further support, and spare parts.
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Currently, the ACV (Amphibious Combat Vehicle) platform with 8x8 wheel formula is entering service with the US Marine Corps. There it replaces old AAV tracked armored vehicles, which were the workhorse for 53 years and finally retired this year.
At the same time, new vehicles include an entire family of ACV-P armored personnel carriers for transporting personnel and ACV-C command vehicles, which are already being supplied to the military. Work is also underway on a repair and recovery vehicle based on the platform.
ACV-30 among all this will be the most heavily armed, with a 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster II cannon installed in the unmanned Kongsberg RT-20 turret. Thus, it will essentially become a full-fledged wheeled IFV that can provide substantial fire support to marines.
Interestingly, only 175 such heavily armed armored vehicles are currently planned, which is quite small overall. However, they are supplied only to the U.S. Marine Corps, whose need is quite limited by its own numbers.
The start of serial production of ACV-30 became known in May 2025, when BAE Systems received a contract for 30 units worth $188.5 million. It was preceded by an order for several near-serial samples in 2022 for testing.
One might think that we're talking about the same vehicles as in spring, but this is most likely not the case, as at minimum its a different fiscal year. Since the number of IFVs is the same, the price is also close, so overall 60 ACV-30s should now be contracted.
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