Amphibious vehicle development has gotten complicated with all the different variants and capability requirements flying around Marine Corps planning discussions. As someone who’s been following the ACV program closely, I learned everything there is to know about this important new armed variant. Today, I will share it all with you.
Marine Corps officials confirmed the ACV-30 variant has entered low-rate initial production, adding a 30mm cannon to the Amphibious Combat Vehicle platform. This is a significant milestone for a program that’s been working to replace the aging AAV-7 fleet.
Probably should have led with this section, honestly. The unmanned turret mounts the same 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster cannon used on the Stryker Dragoon, providing Marines with direct fire support during amphibious operations when they need it most. That’s what makes this variant so important—Marines hitting the beach now have organic firepower rather than hoping external fire support is available and on target. Initial deliveries will equip West Coast units first, with expanded fielding to follow.
This armed variant addresses capability gaps identified since the basic ACV troop carrier entered service. Infantry units previously relied on external fire support during the critical ship-to-shore transition—exactly when communications tend to be most difficult and coordination most challenging. Having the firepower built into the vehicle solves that problem in a way that calling for support simply cannot.
