The Marine Corps is considering how to integrate C-UAS technology into its new Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs) as final testing begins on variants equipped with 30mm cannons and crane hooks.
During the Modern Day Marine expo in Washington on Tuesday, Colonel Tim Hough, the Marine Corps’ Program Manager Advanced Amphibious Assault (PM AAA), highlighted the growing importance of counter-UAS measures, motivated by recent conflicts such as the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“Watching the fight in Ukraine over the past four years, it’s clear that counter-UAS threats are becoming a top priority,” Hough stated. “Armored vehicles are attractive targets on the battlefield, and I don’t believe the ACV will be any different.”
The specific form that the counter-UAS capability will take remains undecided. Hough explained that the Corps is currently in the “market research” phase, assessing the options within the realm of what’s feasible.
He emphasized the unique challenge posed by the ACV’s design: a 72,000-pound vehicle that must traverse up to 12 nautical miles in water. “Every additional capability we add must be balanced against weight limits, so we don’t compromise the vehicle’s water mobility,” he said.
Among potential solutions under consideration is a radar system for counter-UAS efforts, potentially integrated into the vehicle’s turret, though Hough noted that the options remain “wide open” at this stage.
The ACV represents the Marine Corps’ first new amphibious vehicle in over 50 years, replacing the aging Assault Amphibious Vehicle. Remarkably, the ACV has already achieved a notable milestone—conducting waterborne gunnery with its onboard Mk 19 40mm grenade machine guns during its inaugural Pacific deployment last year, according to Hough.
Operational testing for the ACV-30 variant began earlier this year at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center in Maryland and Camp Pendleton, California. Currently, the vehicle is undergoing cyber vulnerability assessments as part of its ongoing evaluation process.
Post Image Credit: US Marine Corps.
