MARINE CORPS WEAPONS & VEHICLES

Sea Power, Jan 2005

AVENGER

The Avenger is a High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV, or Humvee) -mounted Stinger anti-aircraft missile platform capable of the near-simultaneous firing of eight weapons from a standardized launcher. The Avenger system includes an electronically controlled M2 .50-caliber heavy machine gun. The Avenger has a gyro-stabilized turret, which allows the operator to shoot missiles and the .50-caliber machine gun while on the move. It also is equipped with friend-or-foe identification system, a forward-looking infrared sensor and a laser range finder. The Avenger is fully fielded and is being upgraded through 2004, with improvements including the Avenger Fire Control Computer and conversion to the newer Mf 097A2 HMMWV The Marine Corps has more than 170 Avengers in inventory.

COMPLEMENTARY LOW-ALTITUDE WEAPON SYSTEM (CLAWS)

The Marine Corps will buy CLAWS units beginning in fiscal 2006. Raytheon is developing the system along a parallel course with the U.S. Army's HMMWV-mounted AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). AMRAAM is a weapon carried by modern fighter aircraft and has been adapted to be launched from the HMMWV ground vehicle (HUMRAAM). CLAWS is expected to defend expeditionary forces from attacks by cruise missiles and various enemy aircraft. CLAWS will be complementary to current Avenger air defense weapon systems.

EXPEDITIONARY FIGHTING VEHICLE (EFV)

The EFV, formerly known as the Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV), is a self-deploying, high-water-speed, nuclear-, biological- and chemical (NBC)-protected, fully tracked armored amphibious personnel carrier that carries 17 combat-equipped Marines (a reinforced Marine rifle squad) and a crew of three. The EFV will allow the Navy and Marine Corps, for the first time, to link maneuver in ships and maneuver ashore into a single, seamless stroke - providing sufficient sea space for maneuver, surprise and protection. It will be the principal means of armored, protected land-and-water-mobility and direct-fire support to Marine infantry during combat operations, including those in an NBC warfare environment. The EFV will replace the current AAV7A1 family of assault amphibious vehicles with a state-of-the-art system that will fulfill the mission needs of the Marine Corps during the 2008-2030 time frame. The EFV is the linchpin of the future Navy and Marine Corps power projection ashore capability, referred to as "operational maneuver from the sea" and "ship-toobjective maneuver," implicit in the doctrine of expeditionary maneuver warfare. EFV will complement the Navy's landing craft air cushion and the MV-22 by improving surface assault lift capability, boosting the tactical mobility of Marine expeditionary forces. EFV also will contribute to the survivability of the amphibious task force and permit a significantly faster buildup of combat power ashore. The EFVs unique characteristics will include: more than three times the water speed of the current AAV; the ability to defeat future-threat light armored vehicles; land mobility equal to or greater than that of the MlAl main battle tank; significantly enhanced survivability features; effective command-and-control with subordinate, adjacent and higher units; and NBC protection for the crew and embarked personnel. Three first-generation EFV prototypes began developmental testing in 1999, and nine secondgeneration prototypes are now being assembled and readied for developmental and operational testing scheduled to run through 2005. Low-rate initial production is scheduled to begin in 2006, with an initial operating capability scheduled for 2008. The acquisition objective for the EFV is a total of 1,013 vehicles.