Marines in the service’s newest fighting formation will be fielding a more rugged and capable Mobile Command Vehicle (MCV) starting in January. This initiative is part of a contract with U.S. defense firm Science Applications International Corporation, which stipulates that an initial purchase of 18 MCVs will be delivered to Marine littoral regiments’ medium-range missile firing units between January and July of the following year, according to a Marine Corps release.

Additionally, the Corps’ current program budget includes another 18 MCVs expected to arrive between August and early 2026. The MCV is mounted on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), which is replacing the Humvee in some Army and Marine units.

As battlefield dynamics shift and fixed positions become increasingly vulnerable, mobile systems like the MCV and JLTV are deemed essential for maintaining an edge in the current threat environment. The MCV integrates a shelter on the JLTV platform with advanced communication capabilities and enhanced access to fires command and control networks.

Lt. Col. Joshua Faucett, product manager for fire support systems, emphasized the MCV’s strategic and operational advantages, stating that it equips Marines with critical capabilities for future combat scenarios. He noted that receiving deliveries less than six months after the award highlights the efforts of the acquisition team and industry partners.

The Marines also utilize the MCV-equipped JLTV for the Marine Air Defense Integrated System and on the new Navy-Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System. The service requested $340 million in its recent budget to purchase 674 JLTVs, with the first units received in early 2019.

In other developments, personnel at the Marine Depot Maintenance Command production plant located at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Georgia, conducted the first organic rebuild of a JLTV engine at a Defense Department depot. This modified Duramax 6.6-liter diesel engine features specialized components and a proprietary engine control module tailored for combat conditions, which presents challenges for testing and repair.

Experts observed earlier this year that the vehicles were consuming engines at a faster rate than anticipated. The Army, the main buyer of JLTVs, controls the new engine inventory, and the Marines are required to pay approximately $61,000 for each engine.

Jim Dupree, a heavy mobile equipment mechanic at the depot, stated that the most challenging aspect was not the engine rebuild itself but rather communication with the computer systems. Once that hurdle was overcome, the rest was manageable. By conducting engine rebuilds in-house, the depot could save as much as $40,000 per unit, allowing the Corps to sustain its flexibility, referred to as ‘Semper Gumby.’