Taiwan will purchase 36 AAV LVTP-7 Assault Amphibious Vehicles from United States 11712155

Defence & Security News - Taiwan
 
Taiwan will purchase 36 AAV LVTP-7 Assault Amphibious Vehicles from United States.
The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States for Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAVs) for an estimated cost of $375 million. The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
     
The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States for Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAVs) for an estimated cost of $375 million. The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. An amphibious assault vehicle, assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), prepares to embark the well deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) during the Amphibious Landing Exercise 2015 (PHIBLEX15).
     
The purchase could include thirty-six Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAVs) with thirty .50 Caliber M2 heavy machine guns and six 7.62mm M240 machine guns.

The Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) or AAV-P7/A1 or LVTP-7 is a fully tracked amphibious landing vehicle manufactured by U.S. Combat Systems (previously by United Defense, a former division of FMC Corporation) and FNSS Defence Systems.

The LVTP-7 is characterised by its boat-like bow, its wheeled-tracked system and slab-sided hull superstructure. The vehicle was given six double-tired orad wheels to a track with the drive sprocket at the front and the track idler at the rear.

A turret is offset to the right-front side of the hull and this served to provide suppression firepower. This turret was first armed with a M-85 12.7mm. Since the AAV-7A1, a Cadillac Gage turret with a Mk-19 40mm automatic grenade launcher and a M2HB 12.7mm machine gun is installed.

Non-MDE included with this request includes Enhanced Armored Applique Kits (EAAK); spares; weapons; training; support and test equipment; publications; contractor engineering technical services; engineering technical services; logistical, training, engineering and program support; and other technical assistance. The estimated MDE cost is $300 million. The total estimated cost is $375 million.
 

This sale is consistent with United States law and policy as expressed in Public Law 96-8.

This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and enhance its defensive capability.

The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region.

The proposed sale will improve the recipient’s capability in current and future defensive efforts. The recipient will use these vehicles to augment existing vehicles and will have no difficulty absorbing these new vehicles into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not significantly alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor supporting the refurbishment has not been selected. The purchaser normally requests industrial cooperation at forty percent, but at this time there are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale should not require the permanent assignment of additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the recipient.