Constanta – The Romanian Naval Forces will hold a ceremony marking the entry into service of the first nine AAV-7 amphibious assault vehicles on September 28, starting at 14:00, at the Babadag garrison.

According to the cited source, the procurement of AAV-7 (Amphibious Assault Vehicle) units from the United States was initiated in 2024 and entails equipping the 307th Marine Infantry Regiment “Heracleea” with 21 AAV-7 vehicles in the first phase and 44 AAV-7 vehicles in the second phase. The delivery period is 2026–2027.

“The AAV-7 is a tracked amphibious assault vehicle, modern and interoperable with similar NATO military units, offering maneuverability suited to the Marines’ area of operations. These combat vehicles will significantly enhance the firepower and capabilities of Romanian Naval Forces personnel, providing them with greater responsiveness in the Danube Delta region and along the Black Sea coast. The vehicle has a three-person crew and can transport up to 21 fully equipped Marines or five tons of cargo. Its standard armament includes an M2 12.7mm heavy machine gun and an MK-19 40mm grenade launcher, both mounted in a combined turret,” according to a statement released on Thursday by the Romanian Naval Forces.

Since 2011, troops from the 307th ‘Heracleea’ Marine Infantry Regiment have consistently trained alongside U.S. Marine Corps partners, participating in numerous multinational exercises that utilized U.S.-operated AAV-7 vehicles.