The US Marines have just put in orders for 7 more Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles (EFV).

It’s a very ambitious ambitious amphibious vehicle, when I worked on it it was called the Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV), and it is a very ambitious program, a 35 ton vehicle capable of 40 kts in the water by planing like a speed boat.

In any case, it has hit the trifecta in military contracting, over budget, behind schedule, and having technical shortcomings, and the new protypes are supposed to address.

• Wiring and corrosion, and water infiltration issues.
• Insufficient rigidity in the auto-cannon turret leading to feed issues.
• Instability in water, leading to problems staying on plane.

They are not looking at full rate production starting at 2025.

^*Yes, I have worked everywhere. Maybe I can’t hold down a job, but more likely this has been my role as “technical hit man”, where you are parachuted in to take care of a specific need.