USMC moves to overcome vehicle obsolescence

The US Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command has awarded a $52.3 million contract modification to General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada to develop upgrades in support of the US Marine Corps (USMC) Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) Mobility and Obsolescence Upgrade and Integration Program.

Under the contract, General Dynamics will develop a fully integrated replacement power pack, suspension, driveline, steering system and upgraded electrical components. The work scope includes the development and delivery of engineering and logistics data, as well as test support and delivery of prototypes. 

Work under this contract will continue until May 2017.

Meanwhile, BAE Systems announced on 19 May that it had been awarded a $12 million contract by the USMC to provide engineering design and development work related to survivability upgrades for the AAV7A1 Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV).

The contract is one of two awarded following a competitive bid and evaluation process. According to BAE Systems, tt will allow the company to develop a solution that enhances the survivability and capability of approximately 40 percent of the USMC’s fleet. 

‘As the designer and original manufacturer of the global AAV fleet and a provider of marine amphibious combat vehicle solutions for more than 50 years, BAE Systems continues to be a trusted partner to the US Marine Corps,’ said Mark Signorelli, vice president and general manager of Combat Vehicles at BAE Systems. ‘We’re confident that we can deliver a new evolution in the design of the AAV that meets the ever-evolving challenges in the battlefield environment and provides even better protection for US marines.’

The USMC is expected to make a down-select decision in early 2015, choosing a single supplier to move on to the engineering and manufacturing development prototype build phase of the programme.