Marine Corps Ground Combat/Supporting Arms Systems

The MC Ground Combat Support Arms Systems Program Element (PE 0206623M) is a comprehensive Marine Corps initiative under the Navy's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) budget. Its overarching goal is to enhance the lethality, survivability, range, and operational effectiveness of Marine Corps Expeditionary Ground Force Weapon Systems. The program supports both product improvements and modernization efforts for a variety of platforms, including armored vehicles, infantry weapons, training devices, body armor, unmanned systems, and more.

These efforts are coordinated across multiple agencies and program offices, leveraging joint service partnerships and commercial technologies to address current and future operational needs.

1555: Light Armored Vehicle Program focuses on sustaining and modernizing the Family of Light Armored Vehicles (FOLAV), which includes six fielded LAV configurations and a communications/intelligence variant. The program funds engineering change proposals, obsolescence management, safety modifications, and technical data management to ensure these 1983-era vehicles remain operationally effective through their projected sunset in FY 2035.

Planned activities include continued product development, integrated logistics support, and addressing performance and safety issues as they arise from field operations.

1901: Marine Corps Ground Weaponry Product Improvement develops joint and Marine Corps-unique enhancements for infantry weapons, mortars, optics, and night vision equipment. Key objectives include extending the range and digital integration of company and battalion mortars, advancing multi-spectral optics, and improving the Family of Infantry Weapons Systems (FIWS) for reliability, maintainability, and safety. The program also supports ongoing engineering, testing, and ammunition evaluation in collaboration with Army and Navy labs.

2086: Soldier/Marine Enhancement supports the Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad (MERS) initiative, which treats the squad as a system and integrates human factors, systems engineering, and modernization across all worn, carried, and consumed equipment. The program manages the Gruntworks Squad Integration Facility, conducts human performance trials, and collaborates with Army, SOCOM, and NATO partners to leverage new technologies.

Plans include continued integration of body armor, load bearing systems, and digital interoperability solutions, as well as studies on flotation requirements and power management for squad equipment.

2315: Training Devices/Simulators funds the development and modernization of live, virtual, and constructive training environments (LVC-TE), Force-on-Force Training Systems (FoFTS), ranges, immersive training, and simulators. Project Tripoli is a major initiative integrating legacy and new systems to support Force Design 2030 objectives. Priorities include expanding LVC-TE capabilities, developing electronic warfare instrumented ranges, enhancing immersive training with computer-generated forces, and initiating analysis for new driver training simulators. The program aims to improve tactical decision-making, interoperability, and readiness for future operating environments.

2530: Unmanned Expeditionary Systems advances the Marine Corps' logistics modernization through the Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A) Family of Systems. This includes the Tactical Resupply Unmanned Aircraft System (TRUAS) for small payloads and the Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle-Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) for larger loads. Funding supports MARV-EL air vehicle development, common command and control architecture, autonomy packages, and market research for the next increment of TRUAS, with the goal of diversifying distribution options and reducing risk to manned operations.

2503: Initial Issue provides RDT&E for low-cost, non-developmental, and commercial-off-the-shelf items that support Marine uniforms, cold weather gear, load bearing systems, shelters, medical equipment, field feeding, water, and fuel systems. The program aims to reduce logistics burden, improve combat effectiveness, and ensure Marines are equipped with the latest technology. Efforts focus on completing development of fuel and water systems, advancing medical equipment modernization, and updating uniform and load bearing specifications to enhance durability and performance.

Other notable lines include 2513: Body Armor (researching next-generation personal protective equipment and modular integration), 2237: Amphibious Vehicle Test (supporting test and evaluation of amphibious and ground vehicles, autonomous systems, and littoral platforms), 2928: Expeditionary Indirect Fire General Support Weapon Systems (modernizing HIMARS and evaluating new practice rockets), 3098: Fire Support System (upgrading fire support coordination, targeting, and digital interoperability systems), 3774: Marine Corps Ammo (ammunition life cycle management and insensitive munitions development), 3775: Family of Internally Transportable Vehicles (testing and integrating ultra-light tactical vehicles), and 4002: Family of Raid Reconnaissance (enhancing airborne and amphibious reconnaissance equipment and aerial delivery systems). Congressional Adds in FY 2024 supported the development of advanced batteries for cargo drones to reduce reliance on foreign sources and improve unmanned system capabilities.