I received information that Lockheed Martin is offering an upgrade package for the AAV. Information is sparse but I've been told that they're naming it Poseidon, that it is leveraging the systems developed for the MPC AND that its going to have blast protection similar to that vehicle (if you read their press release, then you'll know that the Havoc had equal or near equal MRAP protection levels).
Interesting.
I still believe that the program (AAV Upgrade and the ACV) will be canceled, but once again it looks like industry is stepping up to the plate to deliver to the Marine Corps what its asking for. With the continued delays, extended studies and general vacillation from HQMC, I'm surprised that any of them would devote the resources to a project of this size (refurbing a little less than 500 vehicles).
After hearing this I'll put my dislike of leadership's indecision with regards to the MPC/ACV/AAV Upgrade in my pocket and give them the benefit of the doubt....at least till they prove me right.
There would be a few more from overseas users of AAV-7.
ReplyDeleteAnd are you sure that it won't eventually be all of the AAV-7 fleet ?
Word on the street Sol, is that your going to see 2nd AABN case its colors along with 2nd Tanks and LAR and that they will combine to form 2nd Combine Assault Battalion.....a few companies of Tanks, Tracks and LAR to fill the need for MEU's......So yah...
ReplyDeleteOne thing Lockheed can do really well is name a program something cool.
ReplyDeletei wonder how much "Poseidon" will change the AAV's shape/looks.
Also, you need to remember that these upgrades will be heavily marketed to existing and future AAV operators.
David
DeleteI doubt it will chage the shape, it more than likely has a bolt on composite armor pkg to repace the current eaak kit, a upgraded turret that either s stabilizes the current upws, provides a rws capability with the same wpns or heavier, or gives a upgraded manned turrent with either a 20 or 30mm gun (hell, maybe one can have a 105...really givr some on call fire support.) The engine and tranny should get a rebuild, at least the tranny its what holds back the vehicle.
The big question I have is if they have something in the works to enhance the water jets. If they do thay would be awsome! Break the 8mph water speed combined with rubber tracks.
Last but not least, the crew compartment. Give some kind of situation enhancing ability to the troops, a few tvs that have link to a camera that maybe the troop commander can control, that he can type simple messages into (assault this building, set up mortars jere, action right drill....)
Thats what I can think off
This heavy hollow chunk of metal barely afloat in the water will never be able to go faster than she's able now. Hard dictate via Laws of Physics. Ditto for the average wheeled concepts. And those skirts over and under tracks or wheels are not exactly good daily utility stuff.
DeleteThat unavoidably lumpy shape though is fine to cross a river or a lake at the 6-7kts max speed.
No ARG captain will ever use anything like this to 'self-deploy' from his ship, because that vessel will by dozens and dozens of miles offshore.
EFV was conceptually terminally flawed since it required a speeding escort-tanker to refuel it as it arrived at the beach to then offer it solid combat-radius...And a tanker to the tanker, etc....
A serious sober exercise of reason at work as USMC HQ to finally shut that techno-silly down once and for all. No doubt, engineers enjoyed a 'steroided' APC dream - but nobody else could live with the massive compromises/incoherences.
And worst of all, with EFV, the ARG would have been stuck at 25-30nm in full cross-hairs-view of even crude defensive systems. And one smoking heeling Amphib on CNN would shut down any more 'loose talk' about such amphibious ops - i.e. USMS's core competency. Not contributing to killing Amphibs is the First Directive in matters USMC's amphibious future.
Which means a slow AAV-7 for another decade or two, always carried to shore via LCU-x and LCAC, and always from OTH-x to protect the ARG.
Bigger Gun ? If you want the AAV-7 to float on the same lines it can't gain more weight.
But make it longer and wider to a foot-print to match an MBT's foot-print stored/transported - then you can dream of mounting that 105mm rifled ex-M1A gun; more 'laws of physics'...
what some genius needs to do is to put that mk19x.50cal turret over the rear troop compartment as secondary armament and put a 30mm cannon with a coaxial 7.62mm or a TOW launcher on the top front as the main armament so these lumbering, high-profile, RPG magnets the USMC is stuck with will be able to duke it out with the chinx and the russkies at a respectable "watch yerself" distance.
ReplyDeleteYou couldnt put that turret over the rear, wouldnt fit. As for wpns on the turret, the mk19/50 cal, isnt a bad combo, provides a good amount of heavy firepower alk around, and the ammo can be easily suppkied from most friendly units.
ReplyDeleteWould a 20/30 be nice? Of course!