DETROIT, March 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Marine Corps is committing another $144 million to develop the amphibious Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) as a replacement for the Amtrac.
General Dynamics Land Systems near Detroit has received a contract modification to continued the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase of the EFV program through September 2008.
The EFV is an armored tank-like vehicle designed to come ashore on a potentially hot beach carrying Marine infantry or command-and-control personnel. It then moves inland as the landing force advances. The venerable AAV7 Amtrac currently performs the same tasks; however the EFV has a significant advantage in firepower with a 30mm gun as opposed to the Amtrac's 50-caliber machine gun.
Some critics have questioned the need for the project since Leathernecks storming a hostile beach is something that hasn't happened much in recent history. They also point to the fact that the underside of hulls designed to plow through water are also susceptible to mines.
Proponents, however, argue that the Corps is often called upon to react to world trouble spots quickly and shouldn't be left without the capability to mount an effective amphibious landing.
General Dynamics said the development thus far has proven EFV capabilities in terms of maneuverability on land and sea, carrying capacity, firepower, communications and armor protection. The next step will be to demonstrate overall reliability before low-rate production can begin in 2011.
