BAE Systems' MPC performs well in vehicle evaluation

The Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC) being offered by BAE Systems and Iveco for the US Marine Corps’ MPC Continued Systems Demonstration and Studies contract has successfully completed amphibious vehicle evaluations.

The evaluations, conducted at the Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch (AVTB), in Camp Pendleton, California, saw the vehicle demonstrate its capabilities over the course of 12 days. The tests included a series of Water Performance Demonstrations in various sea conditions, as well as an evaluation of Human Factors and Stowage Capacity.

The BAE Systems and Iveco vehicle is an 8x8 MPC derived from Iveco’s SUPERAV. The vehicle has been purpose built to provide the US Marine Crops with an advanced balance of protection, performance and payload and to fill the medium-armour ground vehicle gap. It has been designed to be flexible, highly mobile, well protected, sustainable, networked and with a strong swim capability.

During testing, the marine corps required demonstrations of the vehicle’s manoeuvrability on land and at sea, as well as the vehicle’s load capacity – the ability to accommodate a reinforced marine rifle squad and allow for a quick and efficient personnel exit.

According to the company, the MPC exceeded all vehicle requirements, performing personnel exit drills in less than 17 seconds and showcasing an advanced interior layout and compartmentalization that allows for the stowage of more than three days of supplies without jeopardizing the survivability of the vehicle and personnel.

John Swift, BAE Systems’ MPC program director, said: ’The highly experienced team of BAE Systems and IVECO presented an impressive 26-ton, open-ocean, swim-capable vehicle that exceeded all projected vehicle requirements.

‘Despite a demanding programme, our MPC was completed on schedule and on budget. It will provide our marine corps customer with a highly manoeuvrable solution both in water and on land, with excellent amphibious capabilities and a high level of survivability.’

The joint BAE Systems and Iveco Defence Vehicles team is now preparing for survivability demonstrations planned for this summer at the Nevada Automotive Test Center.