General Dynamics has won a $712 million contract to build ten prototypes of the Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle and to refurbish the three previous prototypes. This should lead to low-rate production in 2004 with full-rate production in 2006. The AAAV will have an MTU-883 engine, a two-man turret, and advanced fire controls. The Marines plan to buy 1013 of them to replace the current amphibious vehicles.--Stephen V Cole