Marines Back “Essential” Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle / Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle — Failure Not An Option

Marines Back “Essential” Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle / Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle — Failure Not An Option

(NSI News Source Info) MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - March 14, 2009: Our Corps’ position remains unequivocal — the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle is essential to what we do and is our top acquisition priority. It is a mistake to let past technical difficulties shape the future of the program.

The US Marines say past technical difficulties should not affect the future of the “essential” Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle program. (USMC photo)

Operational experience has repeatedly demonstrated that the rapid projection of Marine Corps combat power ashore is the key to success in all amphibious missions across the range of military operations. The tremendous flexibility and utility, both across the littorals and deep inland, make it a significant addition to joint commanders’ employment options.

Even if the landing force could avoid fixed defenses, comparative analysis has shown that shuttling personnel carriers on landing craft air-cushioned would delay the build-up of combat power ashore to the extent that the landing force would incur significant casualties from an enemy counter-attack.

Additionally, anti-ship cruise missiles are lethal ship-killers, as demonstrated when Hezbollah struck an Israeli warship during the Lebanon crisis in 2006, but neutralizing these weapons is facilitated by keeping ships over the horizon. The Navy and Marine Corps have therefore pursued a complementary mix of over-the-horizon capabilities, to include rotary-wing and tilt-rotor aircraft, LCACs, and the EFV.

A surface amphibious fighting vehicle that self-deploys from a ship at high speed provides the joint commander the ability to quickly mass combat power ashore while overcoming projected anti-access threats. The Joint Requirements Oversight Council validated the requirement for the EFV, which is to provide rapid combat power build-up ashore from over the horizon.

It’s important to understand that when DoD programs exceed planned cost and schedule, Congress requires the secretary of Defense to make certain certifications.

The EFV underwent a complete review in spring 2007, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense certified, among other things, that “the EFV program is essential to national security and there are no alternatives which will provide equal or greater military capability at a reduced cost.” The EFV continues to make significant progress. A recent major design review assessed the predicted reliability as 61.5 hours mean time between operational mission failures, exceeding the established criteria of 43.5 hours. Further developmental and operational tests will be conducted on seven prototypes currently in fabrication to validate the reliability of the EFV.

This nation requires the ability to rapidly project combat power ashore from U.S. Navy ships to ensure our security against international threats. The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle remains a vital capability to accomplish that amphibious mission and is the commandant’s top ground combat priority.