The Marines have been trying to get their hands on a new amphibious combat vehicle, and back in 2015, one of the companies to deliver on that desire is BAE Systems. The company, along with its partner IVECO Defence Vehicles, was awarded a contract worth $103.7 million dollars to develop a new, go-anywhere ride for our boys. The vehicle is known as the ACV 1.1, and the first one has been delivered for testing that will start in the first quarter of 2017. This new vehicle is based on a platform provided by Iveco Defence Vehicles but is said to provide superior protection and improved survivability for its passengers over anything the Marines currently have in this type of vehicle.

Powering this beast is a 700-horsepower broot of an engine that will make the ACV 1.1 faster and torquier than the Assault Amphibious Vehicle that is currently in use. According to BAE Systems, it can haul a total of 13 Marines in suspended seats along with an additional crew of three that handle operating this crazy machine. It is an official 8x8 vehicle, which means power is delivered to every wheel for the all-terrain goodness that our defenders need to go anywhere safely and securely. It can be deployed at sea, and crawl over just about any type of terrain our rocky, water-covered planet can throw in front of it.

To protect the men and women that this thing will undoubtedly haul into less than favorable situations, all other specifications are highly classified. So, don’t expect to learn much more about it. There will be a total of 16 prototypes delivered for testing next year, and BAE systems is confident that the Marines will find them and their state-of-the-art systems to be on point.

Why it Matters

With terrorism and war keeping our military on high alert, it’s refreshing to see the ongoing development of new transportation that will help more of them come home safely should something pop off in the future. The last thing our country needs is more war, and some would argue that another world war is coming. Hopefully, that doesn’t happen, but if it does, our military forces will be more prepared than ever. Just imagine how many lives would have been saved had Allied forces had something like this when they stormed Normandy back in 1944. With that said, I’m sure this beast will be ready to go if the time comes and will surely contribute to keeping our Marines safe in the future. To the men and women who are protecting us now, and have done so in the past, thank you for your service.