BAE Systems bids for Marine Corps amphibious vehicle contract

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich., May 20 (UPI) -- BAE Systems reports it has officially submitted its bid to the U.S. Marine Corps for a contract to build a new amphibious combat vehicle.

The vehicle offered -- with partner IVECO Defense -- is a U.S.-made non-developmental vehicle which has already undergone thousands of miles of mobility testing and a full range of amphibious operations.

"Our solution will provide the Marine Corps with a truly amphibious capability, designed into our solution and backed by our more than 70 years of experience designing and building amphibious vehicles," said Deepak Bazaz, director of new and amphibious vehicles at BAE Systems. "Our ACV 1.1 proposal offers a mature, cost-effective solution with growth capacity to meet future Marine Corps needs."

The Marine Corps will award two initial contracts later this year -- each will be for 16 engineering, manufacturing, and development prototype amphibious vehicles. Those vehicles would have to be delivered to the Marines beginning nine months from the awarding of the initial Amphibious Combat Vehicle 1.1 competition contracts.