Marine Corps Ground Combat/Supporting Arms Systems

Mission — MC Ground Cmbt Spt Arms Sys source

This Program Element (PE) provides modification to Marine Corps Expeditionary Ground Force Weapon Systems to increase lethality, range, survivability and operational effectiveness. In addition, the PE provides for product improvements to the family of LAVs. The Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch (AVTB) provides facilities and personnel which perform a broad range of testing, repair and technical services to amphibious vehicles. This program is funded under Operational Systems Development PE because it encompasses engineering and manufacturing and manufacturing development for upgrades of existing systems.

Mission — Family of Raid Reconnaissance source

Project supports multiple airborne/parachuting and specialized reconnaissance related programs focusing on immediate capability enhancements for numerous insertion and personnel equipment shortfalls currently within Marine Reconnaissance and Marine Raider units. These enhancements will improve airborne and amphibious capability, equipment and items for direct action missions, and specialized raid equipment. Decrease from FY 2025 to FY 2026 is primarily attributed to reduced developmental efforts and related support.

Mission — Family of Internally Transportable Vehicles (FITV) source

The Family of Ultra-Light Tactical Vehicles (FULTV), which consists of the Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) and its replacement the Ultra-Light Tactical Vehicle (ULTV), provides operational capabilities for infantry logistics, integrating systems, long-range surveillance, and reconnaissance missions in support of distributed heliborne operations. The lightweight vehicles provide units with increased logistics support while reducing the combat load burden on the individual Marine, as well as providing casualty evacuation for wounded Marines. The vehicles are transportable in the MV-22/CV-22 tilt rotary wing aircraft, CH-53E/ CH-53K rotary wings aircraft, and all fixed wing aircrafts. The FULTV mitigates the infantry units, reconnaissance battalions, and wing support squadrons mobility capability gaps, with the ability to operate in remote regions where currently fielded ground mobility platforms may be unsuitable due to size, weight, and transportability concerns. The FULTV is a reliable, non-developmental vehicle that supports the Fleet Marine Forces by providing infantry and reconnaissance battalions with a reliable, easily maintained, vehicle that supports a range of military operations (ROMO) including distributed operations (DO), littoral operations in a contested environment (LOCE), expeditionary advanced based operations (EABO), and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). The FULTV platforms host essential Force Design enabling capabilities. The ULTV also includes a ULTV-High-Power variant which provides exportable electrical power generation in support of the requirements for integrating systems.

Mission — Congressional Adds source

The US Government has implemented country-of-origin requirements for unmanned systems to address dependency on foreign sources for lithium-ion batteries. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) utilized in complex operations, such as ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore, or long-range Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, rely on real-time power data, such as communications through a Controller Area Network (CAN) interface reporting the battery's state in real-time. Outsourcing battery production to adversarial parties poses a direct risk to national security. This Congressional Add provides support to the development of end-to-end Li-ion battery manufacturing capability to produce extended cycle life batteries for autonomous systems.

Mission — Marine Corps Ammo source

Ammunition Life Cycle Management (ALCM) supports PdM Ammunition's responsibility for total life cycle management for ground conventional munitions. Ammunition logistics R&D projects are designed to extend the shelf life of the current inventory, provide enhanced packaging to "lighten the load" of munitions, and modify ammunition-related systems to increase reliability and performance while enhancing accountability and auditability. Conventional Ground Ammunition (CGA) is a project that identifies and develops Insensitive Munitions (IM) technologies to address IM shortfalls in new Marine Corps development and/or improvements to legacy CGA to meet OSD-mandated IM compliance requirements. These IM technology investments directly support the development of the bi-annual Marine Corps Insensitive Munitions Strategic Plan (IMSP), which addresses any identified IM technology needs of the Marine Corps.

Mission — Lt Armored Vehicle Prog source

The Family of Light Armored Vehicles (FOLAV) consists of six fielded Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) configurations and one communications/intelligence-configured asset on an LAV chassis. The FOLAV provides a logistically self-contained, highly mobile, and lethal combined arms combat system to the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF). The LAV Product Improvement Program (PIP) funds modification activities and the development and testing of modifications. These programs will ensure that the FOLAV is capable of conducting its assigned missions by enhancing lethality, survivability, reliability, availability, and maintainability in addition to reducing operations and support costs. FY 2026 funds continued support to the fielded LAV fleet and future Engineering Change Proposals. RDTE allows for resolution of performance enhancing obsolescence, safety and any other unplanned issues that arise from the field.

Mission — MC Grnd Wpnry Prod Improvement source

This project develops joint and Marine Corps unique improvements to infantry weapons technology, non-lethal systems technology, improvements for Night Vision Equipment, Rifle Combat Optics, Family of Individual Optics, and monitors national and international weapons developments.

Mission — Soldier/Marine Enhancement source

Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad (MERS) mission is to manage the infantry squad, "squad as a system", by conducting human systems integration, systems engineering, human factors, and modernization efforts across all the products that are worn, carried, and consumed by the rifle squad and integration of the squad in mobility platforms. The Marine Corps' Force Design reorganizes personnel and equipment across all infantry battalions injecting new capabilities in order to combat a near peer competitor and includes experimentation with Fleet Marine Force units. Experimentation will require an increased level of effort to influence integration and synergy of capabilities. Physical integration, capability analysis, modeling and simulation, ergonomics, and usability assessments are facilitated by this program in working with the various program managers and project officers in the development of their unique items that contribute to the squads' overall capabilities. MERS operates and manages the Gruntworks Squad Integration Facility in order to meet mission requirements to support integration and assessments of equipment. Human Systems Integration and Anthropometry are two key areas of expertise. MERS is engaging industry and academia in search of innovative technologies that can meet Force Design infantry capability initiatives. Mobility and power management are fundamental considerations in the insertion or modernization of any squad equipment. MERS works with Joint and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) soldier modernization programs to harvest new technologies to increase the capability of the rifle squad. The program also ensures the integration of the rifle squad into the various mobility platforms currently in service and being developed to ensure a Marine with equipment can operate effectively. This program is essential to ensure the combined synergistic equipment effects enhance the war-fighting functions of the Marine rifle squad towards the strategic Marine Corps warfighting vision for the future.

Mission — Lightweight 155mm Howitzer source

LW155 (also known as the M777A2 howitzer) provides all weather, day/night direct, reinforcing, and general support fires to maneuver forces as well as direct support artillery. It is a joint program between the Marine Corps and Army, which is additionally supporting various foreign military purchases of the weapon system. The M777A2 howitzer was first fielded by the Marine Corps in April 2005 and completed fielding in April 2013. The M777A2 howitzer is used significantly in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. This budget item supports system updates to maintain and increase performance and lethality. The M777A2 howitzer is the prominent weapon of the Marine indirect fires triad and currently the only cannon in the Service. In FY 2026, the program will continue to focus on improving the Digital Fire Control System (DFCS) of the M777A2 while allowing for operation in a Global Positioning System (GPS) denied/challenged environment. Continued operation in a GPS denied/challenged environment is critical to the M777A2 ability to fire Precision Guided Munitions (PGM). The M777A2 will leverage the US Army's Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (APNT) initiatives, such as Mounted APNT System (MAPS), as well as DFCS efforts by other US Army weapon system platforms, to help evaluate future modernization efforts for the M777A2.

Mission — Amphibious Vehicle Test source

The mission of the Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch (AVTB) is to plan, execute, analyze, and report developmental and integrated test and evaluation events to characterize the performance of amphibious and ground combat vehicle systems, autonomous and robotic systems, and other platforms that operate in the littorals to enable informed acquisition decisions. The AVTB is responsible for the operation and management of the only Department of Defense amphibious vehicle test facility that utilizes Marines, Civilians, and Contractors to test littoral capabilities. The AVTB conducts test and evaluation and supports experimentation and demonstration projects for Marine Corps Systems Command and Program Execution Office Land Systems program managers, the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, Headquarters Marine Corps, the Office of Naval Research, the Defense Innovation Unit, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The AVTB is a division of the Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity (MCTSSA). In fiscal year 2024, MCTSSA was designated a Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory (STRL). The AVTB will support MCTSSA's STRL requirements by manufacturing and fabricating hardware and instrumentation that support technology experimentation, demonstration, and test and evaluation of amphibious and ground combat vehicle systems, autonomous and robotic systems, and other platforms that operate in the littorals. In FY26, AVTB is transitioning to use Operations and Maintenance (O&M) funding for sustainment costs to include, but not limited to, administration, operations, and equipment sustainment.

Mission — Training Devices/Simulators source

This project element supports the development of all live, virtual, and constructive training devices and simulators required by the Fleet Marine Force to support the future operating concepts envisioned in Force Design. The Marine Corps established Project Tripoli, a Training and Education Command initiative in support of Force Design, to address the development of Live, Virtual, and Constructive Training Environment (LVC-TE) capabilities that enable Commanders and Marines to experience the conditions, threat, and capabilities of tomorrow's battlefield and closes the gaps between experimentation efforts, the training continuum, and real-world mission rehearsal/operations. Current Programs of Record are: LVC-TE, Force on Force Training Systems (FoFTS), Deployable Virtual Training Environment (DVTE), Ranges and Training Area Management (RTAM), Immersive Training Range Support (ITRS), Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer (ISMT), the Family of Egress Trainers (FET), the USMC Operator Driving Simulator (USMC ODS), Marine Air Ground Task Force Tactical Warfare Simulation (MTWS) and Marine Corps Training Information Management System (MC-TIMS). These training systems provide tactical weapons and decision-making skill training for entry level Marines through MAGTF staff level. Marine Corps Force Design 2030 is driving changes to the operating forces that require training system integration with LVC-TE. LVC-TE modernization realigns MTWS, and legacy Combined Arms Command & Control Training Upgrade System (CACCTUS), Supporting Arms Virtual Trainer (SAVT) capabilities within LVC-TE to promote joint training, education, and development of doctrine and tactics that meet the needs of the current and future Warfighter. Interoperability with LVC-TE improves Marines' ability to conduct mission planning, mission rehearsal, and concept evaluation in valid synthetic and live environments to promote better global outcomes.

Mission — Initial Issue source

This funding provides research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) on low cost items with an emphasis on Non-Developmental Items/Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (NDI/COTS) available items. Much of the RDT&E is conducted in coordination/concert with other services and joint organizations, and in consideration of RDT&E efforts being pursued by the other Services. Items approved for procurement will transition into Operation and Maintenance Marine Corps accounts for Marine Corps Uniforms, Cold Weather Mountaineering, and Load Bearing and Pack Systems, Family of Shelters, Combat Field Feeding Systems, and Family of Field Medical Equipment. Family of Field Medical Equipment items approved for procurement will also transition to the Procurement, Marine Corps account. The benefits will be reduced logistics, less weight, improved combat effectiveness, better echelon I and II care for Marines, improved individual and unit protection, expeditionary feeding platforms, tactical mobility, calibration and maintenance, etc. The employment of state of the art equipment will ensure Marines are equipped and supported with the best items that technology can offer. Infantry Clothing, Equipment, and Armor includes Marine Corps Uniforms; Cold Weather and Mountaineering; Load Bearing and Pack Systems: and Individual Warfighting Equipment. Load Bearing and Pack Systems now includes the waterproof bag efforts previously included under Individual Warfighting Equipment. The continual research development and testing of technological advancements leads to performance enhancements, upgrades and modifications to legacy systems and new developments. Funding for this capability area leverages other Services' and governmental partners' efforts to maximize returns on investment and promote coordination and cooperation for same or similar requirements and capabilities. The objective is to equip individual Marines with uniforms and combat equipment to maximize effectiveness in every environment across the full range of military operations and includes support to the basic recruit issue seabag. The Family of Field Medical Equipment (FFME) focus is to provide state of the art medical equipment and emerging medical technology that will improve the clinical outcomes for casualties. The objective is to replace obsolete items with those that fulfill the requirements and needs while increasing performance characteristics in the areas of energy efficiency, durability, reliability, and survivability while reducing weight and size in austere environments of a variety of climes. The focus is also to update and promote new supporting technologies and joint interoperability of operational medical equipment in support of Force Design 2030 Littoral Operation in a Contested Environment and Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO). The Family of Shelters and Shelters Equipment (FSSE) and The Family of Combat Field Feeding Systems (CFFS) portfolio focus is to provide scalable expeditionary capabilities to the warfighter, with specific emphasis on supporting Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) and austere base establishment in the littorals. The FSSE funding will be used to improve legacy material solutions and develop new solutions that protect the Fleet Marine Force from observation, detection, adverse climatic conditions, and combat hazards. Furthermore, continuation of camouflage research which is vital to provide both cover and concealment in visual, signature reduction, and infrared and radar spectrums against near peer adversaries in support of the Commandant's Planning Guidance. Continuation of shelter research and development is required to design more reliable systems, lighten current shelters and shelter systems and minimize power requirements for environmental systems in support of EABO. The Family of Combat Field Feeding (FCFFS) funding seeks to maximize fuel efficiency, reduce size and weight, and improve transportability of equipment used to provide nutrition on the go to Marines conducting training and contingency operations in future EABO and forward operating environments. The Calibration and Maintenance Program (CAMP) calibrates the majority of tools and test equipment that ensure the safe and accurate operation of the ground weapon systems required to conduct Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations. The entire ground maintenance effort relies on CAMP activities to maintain combat effectiveness. This funding will be used to identify and assess the latest technology in calibration equipment, which is necessary to replace obsolete equipment, increase performance and reduce the footprint of deployable calibration sets. Family of Expeditionary Water Systems (FEWS) is a family of systems line that contains purification, storage, distribution, hygiene, and test systems for water. This capability is necessary to provide safe and potable water to Marines in expeditionary environments. The family contains individual Table of Allowance Material Control Numbers which supports Fleet Marine Force (FMF), Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) operations, and Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) by providing all aspects of land-based water support to include test analysis, purification, reuse, storage, transfer, dispensing, and field hygiene support. Family of Expeditionary Fuel Systems (FEFS) is a family of systems that contains highly versatile fuel systems in support of FMF operations. The family contains individual Table of Allowance Material Control Numbers which support FMF, MAGTF operations, and Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) by providing all aspects of land and littoral-based fuel support to include receiving, test, additization, storage, sensors and metering, transfer and dispensing of fuel and the critical pacing commodity.

Mission — Body Armor source

Ballistic Protection Systems (BPS) provides the most technologically advanced protection at the lightest weight available in the world today. It provides the critical ballistic protective systems that save lives, reduce the severity of combat injuries, and increase combat effectiveness by keeping more Marines in the fight. Major BPS programs include: Plate Carrier Generation III (PC Gen III); Lightweight Plates (LWP); Armor Inspection Systems (AIS); Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH); Improved Ballistic Eyewear (IBE); Integrated Helmet System (IHS) and Hearing Enhancement. The major focus areas of all BPS programs are adapting ballistic protective systems to the constantly changing threat environment and leveraging emerging technologies to lighten the load and increase the mobility of each Marine.

Mission — Unmanned Expeditionary Systems source

Prior to FY 2024, Unmanned Expeditionary Systems (UES) was funded in Project 4002, Family of Rapid Reconnaissance. UES consists of the Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS- A) Family of Systems, a Marine Corps Logistics Modernization initiative. ULS-A provides Combat Arms and Logistics Commanders with an organic aerial delivery option, which diversifies distribution options while reducing risk to manned aircraft and ground convoy operations. ULS-A supports the full range of military missions with relevant lift capacity and simple-to-operate autonomous systems. ULS-A consists of two different air vehicle classes which will share common autonomy and architecture characteristics. ULS-A Small, or Tactical Resupply Unmanned Aircraft System (TRUAS), provides front-line Combat Arms and Logistics Commanders with an aerial distribution option capable of deliveries of up to 120 pounds at a range of 12 kilometers. ULS-A Medium, or Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle-Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL), will provide Logistics Commanders with an organic lift capacity of at least 1,300 pounds for a range of 100 nautical miles. FY 2026 funds will be used to develop capabilities common across the Family of Systems, in particular common Command and Control and Autonomous Systems. Additionally, RDT&E will be used for MARV-EL Air Vehicle Development and to initiate market research on the next increment of TRUAS.

Mission — Exp Indirect Fire Gen Supt Wpn Sys source

Expeditionary Indirect Fires provides the Ground Combat Element (GCE) systems needed to engage multiple enemy threats from land and sea. High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) which is a C-130 transportable, wheeled, indirect fire, rocket/missile system capable of firing all rockets and missiles in the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Family of Munitions (MFOM). The system includes one launcher, two Re-Supply Systems, and the MFOM. HIMARS provides the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) with 24-hour ground-based, responsive General Support/General Support Reinforcing (GS/GSR) indirect fires which accurately engage targets at long range (70+km), with high volumes of lethal fire under all weather conditions throughout all phases of combat operations ashore, to include irregular warfare, distributed operations and sea control. Development provides for the modernization and obsolescence mitigation of the HIMARS in order to provide improved operational capabilities. The HIMARS batteries have previously used old Reduced Range Practice Rocket (RRPRs) motors to refurbish as new training rounds. Due to limited quantities available, the Army is developing a new practice rocket, Joint Reduced Range Rocket (JR3) and began testing in FY 2025. The Marine Corps is conducting technical reviews of Army JR3 test data in FY 2025. The Marine Corps will subsequently conduct Marine Corps specific analysis and testing of proposed Army Materiel Solution in FY 2026 and FY 2027.

Mission — Fire Support System source

Project 3098 Fire Support System funds the development of critical United States Marine Corps (USMC) key efforts: fire support coordination, targeting, and digital interoperability systems required for the employment of air and ground fires. Fire Support Systems develop and integrate a digital networked sensor to shooter kill chain supporting the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). Key efforts included are: The Fire Support Mod Line (FSML) is a set of Marine Corps efforts to address critical operational and logistics deficiencies in existing, fielded fire support/weapons systems, and equipment. FSML provides technical refresh and development of target acquisition, artillery survey, meteorological systems, and fire direction control. Provides execution of product improvements/modifications and upgrades to system hardware and software for the Marine Artillery Survey Set (MASS), Modeled Meteorological Information Manager (MMIM), Global Positioning System Survey Replacement (GPS-S), Improved Position Azimuth Determining System (IPADS), and the IPADS replacement system, known as the Location Azimuth Determining System (LADS). Funding is also used for upgrades, engineering change proposals (ECPs), and modifications for fire control systems which fall within Fire Support Systems for the Marine Corps. The Family of Artillery Munitions (FAM) seeks to provide the warfighter with the most state of the art Global Positioning System (GPS) guided and ballistic 155mm projectiles. In conjunction with the Army, the Marine Corps is evaluating new munitions that are effective against individual area targets dispersed over a defined area, targets whose precise locations are not known, time-sensitive or moving targets, and massed formations of enemy forces. Funding is used to develop and mature these projectiles for the Marine Corps and includes conducting safety and engineering analysis as well as ship compatibility studies. The Common Laser Range Finder (CLRF) is an association of targeting systems that provide handheld, lightweight, man portable devices supporting the employment of air and surface fires. They provide foot mobile users the ability to locate, identify, mark, and designate targets in both day and night conditions for engagement by fire support and weapons platforms. CLRF systems support the collection and dissemination of targeting information to maneuver, fire support, and intelligence personnel via external digital devices such as the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) and the Target Handoff System (THS) using associated Combat Net Radios. The CLRF includes two major systems; the CLRF Integrated Capability (IC) Laser Range Finder (LRF) supports the requirement to locate and transmit targeting information, while the Next Generation Handheld Targeting System (NGHTS) combines the capabilities of the LRF with the ability to designate for specific requirements associated with laser guided munitions.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (16)