Lockheed Martin Havoc completes amphibious testing

Lockheed Martin has announced that its Havoc 8x8 Armored Modular Vehicle has successfully completed amphibious testing as part of its evaluation for the Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC) competition.

The testing, conducted in and near the surf at the US Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, saw the Havoc undergo trials while loaded to its full combat weight. According to Lockheed Martin, the vehicle demonstrated its resistance to water penetration while accommodating a full complement of marine corps battle gear for the crew.

Scott Greene, vice president of Ground Vehicles for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said: ‘The Havoc 8x8 showed its ability to negotiate all surf and wave conditions required by the United States Marine Corps. The vehicle maintained 100 percent operational readiness throughout the test.’

Lockheed Martin is offering the Havoc 8x8 vehicle as part of a team that includes Patria Land Systems, and the vehicle is an evolution of the Patria 8x8 Armored Modular Vehicle.  The multi-mission, expeditionary ground combat vehicle is configured to allow for a wide range of weapons, sensor and communications options to address evolving mission requirements. Employing the baseline architecture of the Patria vehicle, Havoc features advanced mobility and transportability, and can protect its crew against a variety of extreme threats.

Teams led by BAE Systems, SAIC, and General Dynamics are also providing demonstration and study vehicles for this phase of the competition. The programme aims to develop a range of personnel carrier, command and recovery vehicles to meet the requirements of the US Marine Corps. The successful vehicle is expected to enter service in 2015.