An MPC company lifts an infantry battalion in conjunction with the infantry’s
organic wheeled assets. Like the planned Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle
(EFV), MPCs will be assigned to the Assault Amphibian Battalions of the Marine
Division currently outfitted with Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAVs). The
reconstituted Assault Amphibian battalion would tentatively consist of one
MPC company (nominally 88 vehicles) and three EFV companies (about 45
vehicles each).
The MPC family of vehicles will consist of a base vehicle and two supporting
mission role variants. The MPC-Personnel will be the base vehicle, two
of which carry and support a reinforced rifle squad of 17 Marines (one EFV
would do the same). Each vehicle would carry 9-10 combat-equipped Marines
and a two-man crew. This meets the need to transport more Marine infantrymen
than the existing Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) or Humvee platforms
while providing greater protection. The eight-wheeled LAV is not employed
as an armored personnel carrier and usually carries a four-person Marine
scout/reconnaissance team in addition to its crew. The MPC-Command will
be equipped to serve as a mobile command-echelon/ fire-support coordination
center for the infantry battalion headquarters. The MPC-Recovery will be
the maintenance and recovery variant of the MPC.
The MPC supports expeditionary maneuver by enhancing the Marine Air
Ground Task Force’s (MAGTF) tactical and operational protected mobility.
Conceptually, the MPC will complement the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle
(EFV) and will be delivered to the fight as part of the reinforcing echelon
of the MAGTF during forcible entry operations and in of support sustained
operations ashore. The MPC will enable the GCE to maintain lift capacity requirements
and provides an additional balanced platform that will be capable
across the range of military operations.
The Marine Corps leadership deferred a Milestone A go-ahead for the MPC
program in May 2008, saying the delay would allow it “to effectively prioritize
near-term investment decisions, in order to provide a synchronized mobility
strategy with respect to the capabilities the MPC, the EFV, and the Joint Light
Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) offer in the future.” (See the separate EFV and JLTV
chapters of this publication.) MPCs would be supported by JLTVs carrying
heavy weapons, communications equipment, and cargo.
The MPC will be designed to cross rivers and inland bodies of water in a
Marine Air-Ground Task Force’s littoral operational area. The MPC likely would
have a remotely operated weapon station turret fitted with a .50 caliber machine
gun, a 7.62 mm machine gun, or an automated Mk. 19 grenade launcher
with a thermal sight. The MPC crew could provide direct fire in support of
dismounted Marine infantrymen.
The program has built an MPC Technology Demonstrator test bed vehicle
at the Nevada Automotive Test Center, Carson City, Nev., which is being
used to evaluate all required performance attributes, including mobility
(powerpack, drive train, and suspension system), survivability, electrical
power generation and distribution, vehicle health monitoring, and the communication
system.
A Capabilities Development Document (CDD) for the program is in development.
The MPC test bed vehicle effort will inform the CDD with respect to
achievable operational performance requirements and inform the program
office of potential integration risks.
The MPC may be a pilot program for cooperation between the Marine Corps
and the Army’s Tank Automotive Research and Development Engineering
Center in Warren, Mich., as part of the program’s risk-reduction efforts before
it becomes a formal acquisition program.
The Marine Corps’ 2010 Posture Report, released last spring, stated, “We
are planning, programming, and budgeting toward a balanced fleet of vehicles.
Our chief considerations are mobility, survivability, payload, transportability,
and sustainability. Our goal is a portfolio of vehicles that is able to support
amphibious operations, irregular warfare, and operations ashore across
the range of military operations. We envision a blend of Expeditionary Fighting
Vehicles, Marine Personnel Carriers, Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected
[MRAP] vehicles and replacements for our Humvees.”