Marine Amphibious Combat Vehicles To Get Missile-Swatting Active Protection Systems
Summary
The U.S. Marine Corps is actively pursuing the integration of Active Protection Systems (APS) onto its fleet of 8×8 wheeled Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs), with Program Manager Chris Melkonian confirming this development at the Modern Day Marine exposition. The Marines have requested $28.35 million in Fiscal Year 2027 funding to procure Special Mission Kits for APS installation on 21 ACV-P vehicles, covering production kits, integration hardware, countermeasures, and spare parts. The ACV family currently consists of two operational variants — a personnel carrier and a command-and-control version — with two additional variants, a 30mm cannon-armed model and a recovery vehicle, expected to reach initial operational capability by 2028, contributing to a planned total fleet of 608 vehicles. APS technology is particularly critical for the ACV given its vulnerability during slow-moving beach landing operations, where it faces threats from anti-tank guided missiles, rockets, and the increasingly dangerous drone warfare tactics being demonstrated in conflicts like the war in Ukraine. While the specific APS system selected has not yet been disclosed, the U.S. military has prior experience integrating such systems, including the Israeli-designed Trophy APS on M1 Abrams tanks and Iron Fist on Bradley Fighting Vehicles.
Key Takeaways
- 1. The Marine Corps is moving APS capability into production for its ACV fleet, signaling a significant defensive upgrade for amphibious operations
- 2. $28.35 million has been requested in FY2027 to fund APS kits for an initial batch of 21 ACV-P vehicles
- 3. APS systems offer dual-threat protection against both traditional anti-armor weapons and increasingly prevalent drone threats
- 4. The ACV's slow speed during amphibious beach landings makes APS particularly vital, as vehicles are especially vulnerable during water-to-shore transitions
- 5. The specific APS vendor or system model has not yet been officially announced, leaving open the question of whether it will follow the Army's Trophy or Iron Fist path