Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has been awarded an $80,163,321 firm-fixed-price contract modification to supply 52 PROTECTOR RT20 remote turrets for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle 30mm (ACV-30) variant, according to a notice from the U.S. Department of War. The award increases the potential value of the turret line under contract M67854-25-C-2023 to $282,820,227 if all options are exercised, signaling that the ACV-30 program has entered a sustained industrial phase.
This contract coincides with broader developments in the ACV-30 program: Northrop Grumman has transitioned its Mk44S Bushmaster production to full-rate for the ACV-30, while BAE Systems received a $184 million order to deliver 30 additional ACV-30 vehicles, reported Army Recognition. Together, these moves indicate that the Marine Corps is establishing a stable, coordinated system of platform, turret, and medium-caliber gun that will define its amphibious combat capability over the coming decade.
At the core of the program is Kongsberg’s PROTECTOR Remote Turret 20. The RT20 is the smallest of the PROTECTOR family, which includes the RT40 and RT60, and is designed as an unmanned, marinized medium-caliber turret for both wheeled and tracked combat vehicles. Drawing on a lineage that has delivered more than 20,000 remote weapon stations to over 20 nations, the RT20 integrates either the XM813 or Mk44 30/40 mm Bushmaster cannon with a linkless dual-feed system, typically providing two 75-round ready stashes of 30×173 mm or Super 40 ammunition. The turret also includes a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun with 200 ready rounds.
All turret functions are remotely controlled from within the armored hull, supported by an integrated combat system with day camera, thermal imager, and laser rangefinder for 24-hour target engagement. The turret’s modular design allows optional roof-mounted weapons, anti-tank guided missiles, smoke grenade launchers, and different protection kits, and it can operate in single- or dual-operator “hunter-killer” modes to match unit doctrine.
The ACV-30 itself is the fire-support variant of the Amphibious Combat Vehicle family, which is replacing the aging AAV-7 amphibious assault vehicle. Built on the Iveco SuperAV 8×8 chassis and produced in the United States by BAE Systems, the ACV platform first entered service in troop transport and command configurations before the 30 mm turreted variant was contracted. Production-representative ACV-30s fitted with the Kongsberg RT20 and 30 mm Bushmaster cannon have already been delivered for testing, including surf, land, and live-fire trials.
The tactical impact of the ACV-30 equipped with RT20 is significant. The 30 mm Bushmaster, combined with the linkless dual-feed system and selectable ammunition types, enables a single vehicle to engage infantry in cover, light armored vehicles, small surface craft, and some unmanned aerial systems. The stabilized turret and modern sensors support accurate fire on the move, and the “hunter-killer” mode allows commanders and gunners to search, designate, and engage targets simultaneously. Remote operation ensures that crews can reload and sustain fire under armor, a critical feature for units operating from expeditionary advanced bases or along contested coastlines. Sections of ACV-30s can provide mobile direct-fire support, convoy escort, coastal security, and limited counter-UAS capabilities without immediate reliance on aviation or higher-tier fires.
Strategically, the turret contract aligns with the Marine Corps’ shift toward stand-in forces and operations from small, distributed bases in contested maritime regions. With a focus on ship-to-shore mobility and land-combat lethality, the ACV-30 addresses the operational gap left by the divestment of M1A1 Abrams tanks. Armed with RT20 turrets and Mk44S guns, these vehicles provide organic capability against peer and near-peer light armor, fortified positions, and emerging drone threats, while maintaining amphibious deployability.
The program also strengthens transatlantic industrial cooperation. Turrets are developed and partially manufactured in Norway, production work is performed in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, chain guns are U.S.-built, and BAE Systems integrates the system on American-assembled ACV hulls. This shared supply chain enhances NATO’s ability to sustain amphibious combat power across the Atlantic.
The $80.1 million contract finances 52 full-rate production RT20 turrets, along with support, testing, and spares. Work is split 62 percent in Pennsylvania and 38 percent in Norway, with completion expected by November 30, 2028. Coupled with BAE Systems’ $184 million order for 30 ACV-30s and Northrop Grumman’s full-rate Mk44S production, this coordinated acquisition signals a mature program with multi-year funding and a clear production horizon rather than a limited experimental effort.
The convergence of hull, turret, and gun contracts demonstrates the Marine Corps’ decisive commitment to a new generation of amphibious vehicles. By combining protected mobility with remote, scalable, and networked firepower, the ACV-30 equips U.S. Marines for future maritime operations while reinforcing transatlantic defense-industrial ties. For allies and potential adversaries alike, the message is clear: U.S. amphibious forces will arrive from the sea with lethal, sustainable firepower ready to operate in contested littorals.
