USMC Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle
The EFV is a replacement for the Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV or AAV7A1) which was originally fielded in 1972 and will be over 35 years old when the EFV begins production in late 2007.
The total Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) requirement is 1,013 vehicles, of which 935 will be Personnel variants (EFVP1) and 78 Command variants (EFVC1). Personnel variants (EFVP1) are designed to carry 17 combat loaded Marines (in addition to a crew of 3) and equipped with a fully stabilized 30mm automatic chain gun (MK46 Weapon System) and 7.62 coax machine-gun. The Command variant (EFVC1) is designed to carry a battalion/regimental staff in the seven provided staff stations (in addition to a crew of 3), and is armed with a 7.62mm machine-gun.
The EFV was originally known as the Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV). The name changed in September 2003.
USMC EFV, at the Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch, located in the Del Mar area of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA.
USMC EFV, at the Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch, located in the Del Mar area of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA.
General Dynamics Land Systems EFV (Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle). EFV test vehicles, like this one, will be sent to "Assault Amphibian battalions" for real world testing, to see how "Marine Proof" they are. The resulting data will be used for the first low rate production vehicles. This will be done in four phases of production at Lima, OH. Each phase of vehicles produced is expected to have improvements from experiences gained in operation and manufacturing, before the actual production run to replace the current AAVP-7 in service. Photographed at Marine West 2006 show at Camp Pendleton, CA 18-19 January 2006. Photo courtesy Franz Tinio-Lopez.
