Kongsberg Défense and Aerospace is moving forward with full-rate production on its stabilized, remotely operated Medium Calibre Turret (MCT-30) for the US Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV-30).
This production approval is only nine months after the first ACV-30 was delivered to the Marines for acceptance evaluations.
According to a company spokesperson this latest US$51 million contract is part of a larger not-to-exceed USD 329 million firm-fixed-price, undefinitized contract action for the procurement of its Medium MCT-30. The effort will see 175 MCT-30 turrets delivered to BAE Systems manufacturer of the ACV for integration and delivery to the Marine Corps.
BAE selected the MCT-30 in 2020 for the ACV-30 prototypes. The turret had the advantages of being a proven system having been previously fielded on the Stryker Dragoon. Its unmanned configuration has no hull penetration allowing for maximum use of interior space for embarked Marines, their equipment and mission essentials.
The station mounts the Northrop-Grumman XM813 Bushmaster Mk44 Chain Gun Mk44. It is capable of firing the full range of 30 x 173mm ammunition, including armoured piercing discarding sabot (APDS), high explosive and the ability to program and fire the advanced Mk310 Air Burst Munition. The latter allows the gunner just prior to firing to set the projectile to detonate to achieve optimum effect against the target being engaged. This can be on impact, delayed to penetrate a fortification or vehicle, or air burst against troops in defilade, machine gun and anti-armour teams or drones.
Coupled with the MCT-30’s day and thermal sights and fire control system the gun can engage with precision personnel, light armoured vehicles, and other targets to the maximum range of the weapon. The ACV-30’s remote turret not only has day/night sights, laser rangefinder and digital fire controls but also mounts 360-degree panoramic sight on the turret roof. The turret can be accessed from the vehicle to replenish ready-ammunition or to service the weapon. Dual link-less ammunition feeding provides seventy-eight rounds available to each feed.
According to Kongsberg “The digital fire controls automatically perform ballistic computations compensating for the lead angle, cant, tilt and vehicle motion, making targeting easier in the most challenging scenarios.” It’s electro-optics display and weapon controls are remotely located at a crew position in the vehicle. Since the remote turret design does not intrude into the vehicle compartment the AVC-30 retains its ability to accommodate up to thirteen combat equipped Marines.
In addition, the ACV’s ground and water mobility is unaffected is still able to achieve a land speed of up to 88 kmph (55 mph) and 11 kmph (8 kts) in water. Field trails have proved the new vehicles’ ability to not only take on waves of up to 914m (3 ft), challenging surf, but also complete a twelve nautical mile swim from ship to shore and back.
Col Tim Hough, PEO Land Systems Program Manager Advanced Amphibious Assault (PM AAA) stated “The ACV-30 provides a significant increase in lethality for dismounted Marines. PM AAA is looking forward to a longstanding partnership with Kongsberg Defence through this direct contract between the two organizations. The opportunities gained will ensure Marines have what they need to support Marine Corps warfighting needs”.
The ACV-30 is the third of four ACV variants with the ACV-I with an .50 RWS provided as government furnished equipment and the ACV-C Command and Control version delivered and the ACV-R recovery variant in prototype development.
by Stephen W. Miller
