Indra to make Spanish variant of amphibious vehicle used by US Marines

ROME — Spanish defense firm Indra has signed to become the lead integrator in Spain’s purchase of the amphibious vehicles now in use by the U.S. MarineCorps.

After Spain selected the wheeled vehicle, known in the U.S. as the Amphibious Combat Vehicle, Indra struck its deal with Italy’s IDV, which is the design authority, intellectual property owner and supplier of core components on the vehicle.

IDV teamed with BAE Systems to supply the vehicle, known in Italy as Superav, to the U.S. Marines. The Italian military has since become the second customer for the vehicle.

In Spain, Indra’s deal envisages integration of systems on 34 vehicles to be delivered from IDV.

In Spain the vehicle has been dubbed the Marine Infantry Amphibious Combat Vehicle, or VACIM.

“As part of the program, Indra Group will deliver Troop Transport, Command and Control, Recovery and Ambulance variants of the VACIM, integrating the SUPERAV 8x8 platforms with the mission systems requested by the Spanish MoD,” Indra said in a joint statement with IDV.

Indra was reportedly in the running to buy IDV last year. The Italian firm was eventually sold to Italian defense giant Leonardo for €1.7 billion ($1.9 billion).

IDV teamed with BAE in 2011 to offer the vehicle to the Marines and a contract was signed in 2018.

First deliveries took place in late 2020, with the vehicle replacing the Vietnam War-era Amphibious Assault Vehicle, or AAV.

Italy followed up with its own purchase of 36 vehicles in 2022, with the order expected to rise to 64.

Unlike the U.S. vehicles, which feature a Kongsberg 30mm turret, the Italian vehicles are equipped with the Leonardo Hitrole Light remote turret with a 12.7mm caliber weapon.

Tom Kington is the Italy correspondent for Defense News.

罗马——西班牙国防公司 Indra 已签约成为西班牙采购美国海军陆战队目前使用的两栖车辆的主要集成商。

在西班牙选定这款在美国被称为两栖作战车辆的轮式车辆后，Indra 与意大利 IDV 公司达成了协议，IDV 是该车辆的设计权威、知识产权所有者和核心部件供应商。

IDV与BAE系统公司合作，向美国海军陆战队提供了这款在意大利被称为Superav的车辆。此后，意大利军方成为该车辆的第二个客户。

在西班牙，Indra 的协议设想将系统集成到 IDV 将交付的 34 辆汽车上。

在西班牙，该车辆被命名为海军陆战队步兵两栖作战车辆，或简称VACIM。

“作为该计划的一部分，Indra集团将交付VACIM的部队运输、指挥控制、救援和救护版本，并将SUPERAV 8x8平台与西班牙国防部要求的任务系统集成在一起，”Indra在与IDV的联合声明中表示。

据报道，Indra去年曾参与竞购IDV。这家意大利公司最终以17亿欧元（19亿美元）的价格出售给了意大利国防巨头莱昂纳多公司。

2011 年，IDV 与 BAE 合作向海军陆战队提供该车辆，并于 2018 年签署了合同。

首批交付于 2020 年底进行，该车辆取代了越南战争时期的两栖突击车（AAV）。

意大利随后在 2022 年也购买了 36 辆汽车，预计订单将增至 64 辆。

与配备 Kongsberg 30 毫米炮塔的美国车辆不同，意大利车辆配备了 Leonardo Hitrole Light 遥控炮塔，配备 12.7 毫米口径武器。

汤姆·金顿是《防务新闻》驻意大利记者。