U.S. Marines Expand Amphibious Combat Vehicle Program With 32 New ACV-R Recovery Vehicles.

The U.S. Marine Corps is moving the Amphibious Combat Vehicle Recovery variant, or ACV-R, into full-rate production with a 32-vehicle order, giving amphibious units a dedicated armored platform to recover and repair disabled ACVs (Amphibious Combat Vehicles) in contested environments. Awarded on September 30, 2026, the $230.1 million procurement strengthens the Corps’ ability to keep its expanding ACV fleet operational during expeditionary combat and sustained operations ashore.

The ACV-R is designed to recover damaged or immobilized vehicles and support field repairs without forcing crews to rely on less-protected recovery assets. Its introduction adds a critical sustainment capability to the ACV family, improving fleet survivability, operational tempo, and the Marines’ ability to maintain armored mobility during distributed operations.

Related Topic: U.S. Marines Add All-Weather Vision to Next-Generation ACVs Amphibious Vehicles With Thales Minerva

Scale model of the ACV-R recovery variant, developed to provide the U.S. Marine Corps with armored vehicle recovery and field maintenance support for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle family. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

BAE Systems Land & Armaments received the $230.1 million firm-fixed-price modification under contract M67854-16-C-0006. If all remaining options under the wider Amphibious Combat Vehicle contract are exercised, its total value will reach approximately $4.096 billion. The ACV program is replacing the U.S. Marine Corps’ aging Assault Amphibious Vehicle family with a new generation of wheeled amphibious combat vehicles designed for ship-to-shore movement and sustained operations inland. The program currently includes four principal variants: the ACV-P personnel carrier, ACV-C command vehicle, ACV-30 fitted with a 30 mm cannon, and ACV-R recovery vehicle.

The ACV-R is intended to provide battlefield maintenance, vehicle recovery, and limited repair support to U.S. Marine Corps amphibious units, allowing formations to maintain operational tempo without relying on recovery vehicles that may lack the same amphibious mobility or protection. According to BAE Systems, the recovery variant incorporates a heavy-duty recovery winch and an extendable rotating crane that can assist with maintenance tasks including engine-pack removal. The company states that the vehicle can recover vehicles weighing more than 30 tons, while Department of Defense operational test reporting describes it as capable of recovering vehicles in similar or lower weight classes.

The recovery vehicle is configured for a crew of two, consisting of a driver and vehicle commander, and can carry two maintainers. It also includes an M240 medium machine gun for self-defense and onboard maintenance equipment to support field repair activities. These features let recovery teams accompany maneuver elements instead of waiting for damaged vehicles to be moved to rear-area maintenance locations, an important requirement during amphibious and distributed operations where repair facilities may be distant or limited.

BAE Systems lists a road speed above 65 mph and an open-water speed above six knots for the ACV-R, reflecting the mobility requirements of the wider eight-wheeled ACV design. The vehicle uses the Iveco-derived H-Drive mobility architecture and retains the amphibious characteristics needed to move from ship to shore and continue operating alongside U.S. Marine Corps maneuver formations inland. These figures remain manufacturer-published performance data rather than independent operational-test measurements.

Development of the recovery variant began under a $34.9 million contract awarded in 2022, when the U.S. Marine Corps initiated design work intended to replace the legacy AAVR7A1 recovery vehicle. A subsequent $79.2 million modification awarded in 2024 funded three production-representative ACV-R test vehicles and associated test support, moving the design toward government evaluation ahead of full-rate production. The latest 32-vehicle order therefore marks an important transition from development and testing toward fielding the recovery capability across the U.S. Marine Corps ACV force.

The need for the ACV-R is growing as the U.S. Marine Corps expands the number and variety of ACVs entering service. Personnel and command variants provide troop transport and command-and-control functions, while the ACV-30 introduces a 30 mm direct-fire capability intended to support dismounted U.S. Marine Corps infantry and engage enemy vehicles. Adding a dedicated recovery variant provides the maintenance and recovery element needed to keep these different ACV configurations operating together during amphibious and land-based missions.

For the U.S. Marine Corps, the 32-vehicle ACV-R order represents more than a fleet-size increase. Recovery capability directly affects combat availability because a disabled armored vehicle that cannot be rapidly extracted or repaired can obstruct maneuver, expose crews and maintenance personnel, and reduce vehicles available for follow-on missions. Integrating purpose-built ACV-Rs into U.S. Marine Corps amphibious units is intended to give commanders a recovery vehicle with the protection, mobility, and amphibious characteristics required to remain with the force during distributed expeditionary operations.

Explore More Defense News

• Land Defense News
• Naval Defense News
• Defense Aerospace News

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.