The US State Department has given its green light for Greece’s potential purchase of Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAVs) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $268 million.
Greece requested to buy 76 of the former US Marine Corps AAV in several variants.
More specifically, 63 would be in the personnel variant (AAVP-7A1), 9 in the command variant (AAVC-7A1), and four in the recovery variant (AAVR-7A1).
Also included in the request were 63 50-caliber machine guns, MK-19 grenade launchers, M36E T1 thermal sighting systems, training, follow-on support and other related items.
The AAVs Greece intends to buy were withdrawn from waterborne operations by the US Marine Corps following the deadly 2020 sinking of an AAV off the coast of San Clemente Island.
The US Marine Corps is replacing the over-40-year-old AAV with the new amphibious combat vehicle (ACV), which will be moving Marines from ship to shore in the future. The AAVs will continue to contribute to operations, however, as 76 percent of their tasks are land-based, according to the service.
“This proposed sale will improve Greece’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing an effective capability to protect maritime interests and infrastructure in support of its strategic location on NATO’s southern flank. Greece contributes to NATO operations, as well as to counterterrorism and counter-piracy maritime efforts,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.
