Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle

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Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV)
General Dynamics Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV)
Type	Amphibious Assault Vehicle
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	2015 (Planned).[1]
Used by	United States Marine Corps
Production history
Manufacturer	General Dynamics
Variants	EFVP EFVC
Specifications
Weight	34,473 kg. (38 tons)
Length	10.67 m (35 ft)
length	9.33 m (30.6 ft)
Width	3.66 m (12 ft)
Height	3.28 m (10.7 ft) (turret roof)
Crew	3+17
Armor	ceramic/composite
Primary armament	1 x 30 mm/40 mm MK44 cannon
Secondary armament	1 x 7.62 mm machine gun
Engine	MTU MT 883 Ka-523 diesel engine 2,702 hp (water), 850 hp (land)
Power/weight	34.48 bhp/ton
Operational range	land: 523 km (325 miles) water: 120 km (74 miles)
Speed	road: 72.41 km/h (45 mph) water: 46 km/h (28.6 mph) (water)

The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) is the newest United States Marine Corps amphibious vehicle, intended for deployment in 2015.^[1] It was renamed from the Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle in late 2003. The USMC has reduced the number to be purchased from 1,013 to 573 AAAVs by 2015 due to escalation in unit cost.^[2]

The vehicle is an amphibious armored personnel carrier; launched at sea, from an amphibious assault ship beyond the horizon, able to transport a full Marine rifle squad to shore. It will maneuver cross country with an agility and mobility equal to or greater than the M1 Abrams.

The EFV is designed to replace the aging Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) which entered service in 1972^[3], and is the Marine Corps' number one priority ground weapon system acquisition. It has three times the speed in water and about twice the armor of the AAV, as well as superior firepower.

Contents 1 Background 2 Design 3 Armament 4 Criticism 4.1 Reliability issues 4.2 IED protection 4.3 Limited range 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Background

In the 1980s the Marine corps developed an "over the horizon" strategy for ocean based assaults. The intention was to protect naval ships from enemy mines and shore defenses. It included the MV-22 Osprey, the Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC), and the EFV.

Development for the AAAV began on the late 1970s with prototypes in the early 1980s at the command at Camp Pendleton. The predecessor to the AAAV the LVTP7 life expectancy was extended in 1983/1984 by use of the SLEP (Service Life Extension Program) which modified and upgraded many of the key systems creating the LVTP7A1 then designated the AAVP7A1. At the time these vehicles were released the USMC had anticipated and communicated delivery of the AAAV by the mid 1990s (1993). As a result of delays the AAVP7A1 has received another SLEP type upgrade in the mid 1990s while the USMC still awaits final development and delivery of the AAAV. This is now over 14 years behind original projected time frames.

On 7 April 2009, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that the EFV program will “continue as-is,” pending an amphibious review in the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review.^[4] The vehicle has recently been called "exquisite," which Gates has usually reserved for programs he intends to cancel.^[5]

The EFV might be a baseline vehicle for the U.S Army's BCT Ground Combat Vehicle Program, however, it is more likely that the Army will start anew. ^[6]

[edit] Design

The General Dynamics Land Systems EFV is an amphibious armored tracked vehicle with an aluminum hull. The engine is a custom MTU Friedrichshafen diesel (MT883) with two modes of operation; a high power mode for planing over the sea, and a low power mode for land travel.

It has a crew of three and can transport 17 Marines and their equipment.

There is a Command Platform version with secure command and control electronics (and seven work stations), but lacking the 30 mm cannon.

The hull has a hydraulically actuated bow flap to aid planing with a maximum waterborne speed of 46 km/h (28.58 mph), comparable to fast ships and boats. Shrouded Honeywell waterjet propulsors are integrated into each side of the hull, which create over 2800 horsepower. Also outfitted with hydraulically actuated chines to cover the tracks while in seafaring mode. The aluminum hull has caused some controversy due to protection and flammability concerns.^{[citation needed]} However, aluminum hulls have been used for decades in military ground vehicles and boats. The rear loading ramp is not able to open while the vehicle is afloat. This is also typical of other swimming military ground vehicles.

The vehicle uses an ethernet network connected by the Tactical Switch Router (TSR) (based on the COTS DuraMAR Mobile IP router) for its internal and external communications.^[7]

[edit] Armament

It is fitted with composite armor, mine-blast protection, and a nuclear, biological and chemical defense system (NBC). The standard version also has a Bushmaster II 30 mm cannon, which fires up to 250 rounds per minute with single, burst and full auto capabilities up to 2,000 meters in all weather conditions.

The electronically powered two-man MK46 turret on the personnel variant accommodates the commander on the right and gunner on the left, a fire control system and the main and coaxial weapons.

A general purpose M240 7.62mm machine gun with 600 rounds of ready-to-use ammunition is mounted coaxially with the main gun. Smoke grenade launchers are installed on the hull.

Other features:

• 7.62 mm Machine Gun (1, coaxial)
• Smoke / Gas Dispensers (32)
• Rear Troop Hatch
• Top Troop Hatches (2)
• Reinforced Crew Compartment

[edit] Criticism

[edit] Reliability issues

In February 2007 the Washington Post reported that the USMC was not satisfied with the reliability of the prototypes and was not going to initiate production as planned. Instead the Corps has asked for seven new prototypes, to address the current deficiencies which have caused an average of one failure for every four and a half hours of operation.^[8]

[edit] IED protection

In June 2007 members of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces sent a letter to the Marine Corps Commandant urging that the EFV be redesigned to give troops better protection against roadside bombs.^[9] The Marines have suggested that underbelly armor appliqué could be applied after the EFVs come ashore and before they encounter IEDs.^[2]

The limited protection the EFV offers is an improvement on that offered by the AAV so the replacement is an advantage, given the current doctrine of using landing craft for land patrols.^[10]

[edit] Limited range

The EFV's 25 mile range for amphibious landing may no longer prove sufficient, given the increasing ranges of shore launched anti-ship missiles.^[2]

[edit] See also

• ZBD2000

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle

• Official USMC Site
• MTU diesel engines
• Globalsecurity EFV article

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