The amphibious tip of the spear - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Matthew Carstensen, (center), instructor with amphibious assault vehicle instructor, Amphibian Crewman Course (AAC), Assault Amphibian School (AAS) Battalion, Training Command, observes Pfc. Watson Bryant, (left), and Pfc. Tristan Campbell, (right), students with AAS Bn., Training Command as they maneuver an amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) P7/A1 during ground guidance drills at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 28, 2019. The drills were conducted to evaluate the students on ground guidance procedures and techniques when guiding an AAV. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Bustos)

Marine Corps Systems Command awarded a contract to BAE Systems to produce and deliver the Amphibious Combat Vehicle. Following a successful Milestone C decision by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition, the contract options worth $198 million will allow BAE Systems to build 30 low rate production vehicles, which will start delivering in the fall of next year. - Marine Corps Systems Command awarded a contract to BAE Systems to produce and deliver the Amphibious Combat Vehicle. Following a successful Milestone C decision by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition, the contract options worth $198 million will allow BAE Systems to build 30 low rate production vehicles, which will start delivering in the fall of next year.

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From left, U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dave Hermansen and Lance Cpl. Jabril Giannotti, mortarmen, and Sgt. Jack Williams, a squad leader, all assigned to Weapons Co., Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire a 81mm training mortar with the M252A2 mortar system during Ssang Yong 16 at Suseongri, South Korea, March 15, 2016. Ssang Yong familiarizes American armed forces with the Korean Peninsula and contributes to the security and stability of the Asia-Pacific region. Hermansen is a native of Westbrook, Connecticut. Giannotti is a native of Highland Park, New Jersey. Williams is a native of Pilot Point, Texas. - From left, U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dave Hermansen and Lance Cpl. Jabril Giannotti, mortarmen, and Sgt. Jack Williams, a squad leader, all assigned to Weapons Co., Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire a 81mm training mortar with the M252A2 mortar system during Ssang Yong 16 at Suseongri, South Korea, March 15, 2016. Ssang Yong familiarizes American armed forces with the Korean Peninsula and contributes to the security and stability of the Asia-Pacific region. Hermansen is a native of Westbrook, Connecticut. Giannotti is a native of Highland Park, New Jersey. Williams is a native of Pilot Point, Texas.

Marines give civilian media a ride in the inside the Amphibious Assault Vehicle Survivability Upgrade at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., March 15, 2016. The AAV SU, or amphibious assault vehicle survivability upgrade, will build upon the existing hull. The upgrades include additional armor, blast-mitigating seats and spall liners. They may also include fuel tank protection and automotive and suspension upgrades to keep both land and sea mobility regardless of the added weight. - Marines give civilian media a ride in the inside the Amphibious Assault Vehicle Survivability Upgrade at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., March 15, 2016. The AAV SU, or amphibious assault vehicle survivability upgrade, will build upon the existing hull. The upgrades include additional armor, blast-mitigating seats and spall liners. They may also include fuel tank protection and automotive and suspension upgrades to keep both land and sea mobility regardless of the added weight.

Marines with Company C, 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve drive an assault amphibious vehicle from land into the water during a basic operations exercise at the Galveston Marine Corps Reserve, Home Training Center, Aug. 8, 2015. The exercise served as a refresher for the Marines on how to perform basic AAV operations. During the exercise, the Marines drove the AAVs from land to water and performed basic water operations such as left and right turns, forward and reverse, circles and tactic formations. - Marines with Company C, 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve drive an assault amphibious vehicle from land into the water during a basic operations exercise at the Galveston Marine Corps Reserve, Home Training Center, Aug. 8, 2015. The exercise served as a refresher for the Marines on how to perform basic AAV operations. During the exercise, the Marines drove the AAVs from land to water and performed basic water operations such as left and right turns, forward and reverse, circles and tactic formations.

Marines with 4th Assault Amphibian battalion drive an amphibious assault vehicle during a simulated amphibious assault at Peninsula Express 15-8 on Dogu Beach, July 3, 2015. Peninsula Express is the eighth iteration this year of the Korean-Marine Exchange Program, and the first time Marine Forces Reserve has participated in the series of exercises between the U.S. and Republic of Korea Marine Corps designed to build interoperability and tactical familiarity between partner nations. - Marines with 4th Assault Amphibian battalion drive an amphibious assault vehicle during a simulated amphibious assault at Peninsula Express 15-8 on Dogu Beach, July 3, 2015. Peninsula Express is the eighth iteration this year of the Korean-Marine Exchange Program, and the first time Marine Forces Reserve has participated in the series of exercises between the U.S. and Republic of Korea Marine Corps designed to build interoperability and tactical familiarity between partner nations.

An international Corps of Marines from Sweden, Finland, and the U.K. conduct amphibious assaults on a beachhead in Ravlunda, Sweden, for local media outlets during BALTOPS 2015, June 13. The amphibious forces are part of 17 NATO Allies and partner nations that are integrated in air, land, and sea operations to improve their combined-force capability to work together and to respond to threats in the Baltic region. - An international Corps of Marines from Sweden, Finland, and the U.K. conduct amphibious assaults on a beachhead in Ravlunda, Sweden, for local media outlets during BALTOPS 2015, June 13. The amphibious forces are part of 17 NATO Allies and partner nations that are integrated in air, land, and sea operations to improve their combined-force capability to work together and to respond to threats in the Baltic region.

Amphibious Assault Vehicles, launched from the USS Rushmore, demonstrated amphibious landings as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s joint sea-basing exercise, Culebra Koa 15, May 19, 2015, aboard Marine Corps Training Area Bellows. Observed by local-based military and representatives from 22 countries within the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, the landing was made in conjunction with the inaugural U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific-hosted U.S. Pacific Command Amphibious Leaders Symposium. - Amphibious Assault Vehicles, launched from the USS Rushmore, demonstrated amphibious landings as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s joint sea-basing exercise, Culebra Koa 15, May 19, 2015, aboard Marine Corps Training Area Bellows. Observed by local-based military and representatives from 22 countries within the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, the landing was made in conjunction with the inaugural U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific-hosted U.S. Pacific Command Amphibious Leaders Symposium.

An amphibious assault vehicle belonging to 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion splashes into the Atlantic Ocean from the well-deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) April 13, 2015. The platoon used their amphibious assault vehicles to transport Marines from 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment in support of a ship-to-shore exercise off the coast of Onslow Beach, Camp Lejeune, N.C. - An amphibious assault vehicle belonging to 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion splashes into the Atlantic Ocean from the well-deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) April 13, 2015. The platoon used their amphibious assault vehicles to transport Marines from 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment in support of a ship-to-shore exercise off the coast of Onslow Beach, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Marines with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, prepare to begin an assault on a simulated enemy base during movement to contact training aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 9, 2015. Once the assault was completed, the Marines were required to prepare a defense in case of a counterattack. - Marines with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, prepare to begin an assault on a simulated enemy base during movement to contact training aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 9, 2015. Once the assault was completed, the Marines were required to prepare a defense in case of a counterattack.

A Marine with 2nd Assault Amphibious Battalion scans for enemy troops after a simulated attack during a week-long field exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 24, 2015. Maintaining amphibious units is vital to the naval expeditionary nature of the Marine Corps, and maintaining the readiness and standards of every Marine ensures high performance and fast deployment capabilities. - A Marine with 2nd Assault Amphibious Battalion scans for enemy troops after a simulated attack during a week-long field exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 24, 2015. Maintaining amphibious units is vital to the naval expeditionary nature of the Marine Corps, and maintaining the readiness and standards of every Marine ensures high performance and fast deployment capabilities.

Marines with Charlie Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, shoot at pop-up targets during a course of fire aboard Fort A.P. Hill, Va., Sept. 2, 2014. The Marines spent the entire day shooting an unknown distance range with the M4 Carbine and the M249 squad automatic weapon to better themselves at estimating distances and eliminating a target. - Marines with Charlie Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, shoot at pop-up targets during a course of fire aboard Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, Sept. 2, 2014. The Marines spent the entire day shooting an unknown distance range with the M4 Carbine and the M249 squad automatic weapon to better themselves at estimating distances and eliminating a target.