MARINE CORPS WEAPONS & VEHICLES

Sea Power, Jan 2006

INTERIM FAST ATTACK VEHICLE (IFAV)

Fielded in 1999, the IFAV is a high-mobility weapons platform that provides Marine expeditionary and selected reconnaissance units with improved ground mobility. The IFAV is a lightweight, thinskinned, highly mobile platform based on the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, equipped with a turbocharged diesel engine and asneeded posi-traction. Fording is limited to 30 inches. Ballistic protection offered by the IFAV is limited to grenade protection provided by the floorboards. Speed, manueverability and the use of cover and concealment are the crew's primary means of survival. While the IFAV has tactical operational capability similar to that of the Humvee, it is operationally more mobile, given the requirement of internal transport in the CH-53 helicopter. Used extensively in Afghanistan and Iraq, the IFAV is a proven performer capable of virtually any ground mission. It was fielded as an interim solution until the Internally Transportable Vehicle (ITV) comes on line.

INTERNALLY TRANSPORTABLE VEHICLE (ITV)

The ITV program is a Marine Corps-led joint program with U.S. Special Operations Command to field an assault vehicle supporting expeditionary maneuver warfare and over-the-horizon amphibious operations. The ITV will provide Special Operations Forces with a ground mobility platform for special reconnaissance, direct action, unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, counterterrorism, personnel recovery and antiterrorism missions.

The ITV will provide MAGTF ground combat units with a vehicle that is internally transportable in MV-22 and CH-53 aircraft. The current ITV program evolved from a combination of the 1992 Light Strike Vehicle requirement and the need for a Fast Attack Vehicle to deploy within the MV-22. IOC is scheduled for January 2007.

AVENGER

The Avenger is a Humvee-mounted Stinger antiaircraft 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 rangefinder. The Avenger is fully fielded and has been upgraded with improvements including the Avenger Fire Control Computer and conversion to the newer M1097A2 Humvee.

ADVANCED MAN-PORTABLE AIR DEFENSE WEAPONS SYSTEM (A-MANPADS)

A-MANPADS is a rapidly deployable weapon system consisting of a four-door Humvee with an integrated ring mounted weapons station, storage rack for four Stinger missiles, Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System communication suite, ruggedized laptop computer for airspace situational awareness, global positioning navigation device, M2 and M240B machine guns, and thermal optics for the missile and crewserved weapons. It is designed as a replacement for the Avenger.