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BAE Systems bags contract to build ‘swimming’ vehicles for US Marines

BAE Systems selected to build US Marines' prototype amphibious vehicles in fight for potentially huge contract

The US Marines' ageing amphibious assault vehicles are in need of replacement Credit: Photo: US Marines

Defence giant BAE Systems has won a development contract with the US military that could lead to a huge deal to replace the Marine Corps' fleet of amphibious vehicles.

BAE's US-based Land and Armaments division and partner Iveco have signed a $103.7m (£69m) agreement to build 16 prototype armoured combat vehicles capable of "swimming" ashore.

The company's eight-wheeled vehicles, which can carry three crew and 13 heavily equipped troops, are capable of landing Marines from ships out at sea and then supporting them once on shore.

Along with BAE, US company Science Applications International Corp (SAIC) was also selected to produce 16 of its own amphibious vehicles.

BAE's prototype amphibious vehicle can carry 13 troops and three crew

Both companies' vehicles will be evaluated by the Marine Corps to decide which best fits their needs, with the winner expected to be announced in about three years' time and the first vehicles going into service in 2020.

The winner can expect an order for at least 200 new vehicles, worth more than £400m.

“We are proud to continue our long history of providing the Marine Corps with superior amphibious capabilities,” said Deepak Bazaz, director of new and amphibious vehicles at BAE.

“Our vehicle was designed to be fully amphibious with exceptional ground mobility and protection. Our amphibious combat vehicles will provide the Marine Corps with a mature, cost-effective solution with significant growth capacity.”

Work on the vehicles will take place at BAE Systems’ facilities in Quantico, Virginia; San Jose, California; and York, Pennsylvania.

The new vehicles will replace the Marine Corps' existing fleet of amphibious assault vehicles, which have been in service since the Vietnam era. These vehicles are becoming increasingly unreliable as they age and spare parts are in short supply.

Earlier programmes tried to develop a high-speed replacement for the vehicle were cancelled

An earlier programme to replace them with a high-speed vehicle that skimmed across the surface of the sea was abandoned four years ago because of spiralling costs and delays.

BAE and SAIC beat off competition from Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and Advanced Defence Systems to win the development contracts.