Photo By Helena Yared | The GDLS Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle 30 mm Cannon (ARV-30) prototype conducts open...... read more read more
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO – The Marine Corps awarded General Dynamics Land Systems and Textron Systems Corporation a second Rapid Prototyping phase for the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle. Both vendors will be building and delivering their respective solutions to meet the USMC requirement for an ARV Command, Control, Communications, and Computers Unmanned Aerial System (ARV-C4UAS), 30mm Autocannon (ARV-30), Logistics (ARV-LOG) Pre-Production vehicles.
The Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) is a planned effort by the Marine Corps to provide a purpose-built family of vehicles, with new capabilities to support Mobile Reconnaissance, and replace the Light Armored Vehicle (LAV). It is designed to be highly mobile, networked, transportable, protected, and lethal, providing sensors, communication systems, and lethality options to counter threats traditionally addressed with more heavily armored systems. ARVs will be smaller and lighter than the ACV-30, enabling rapid deployment and stealthy operations in various terrains.
The ARV-30 will provide greater capability than the current Light Armored Vehicle 25mm variant (LAV-25) and meet the Marine Corps' requirements for Force Design. It will be equipped with advanced features such as an automatic 30mm medium-caliber cannon, anti-armor capability, modern command-and-control systems, and a full range of advancedsensors. ARV-C4UAS will be equipped with a C4 suite of capabilities that will allow it to operate as a battlefield “quarterback” by utilizing integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems.
“In the future fight, the Marine Air-Ground Task Force [MAGTF C2] must out cycle the fight for information to shape the battlespace and deliver precision fires,” said Col. Chris Stephenson, program manager for Light Armored Vehicles (PM LAV). “This highly contested environment is drastically more complex, and Mobile Reconnaissance Battalions must have a purpose-built capability such as the ARV that can sense, communicate, and fight by incorporating manned and unmanned systems and sustaining effective sensor webs tied to kill chains.”
The ARV program is the first major USMC program to utilize new legislation on acquisition reform in line with SECWAR guidance, which empowers PMs and PEOs to take advantage of agile contract authorities to deliver capabilities to the warfighter as quickly as possible.
“Building on its initial success, the program is capitalizing on recent legislative flexibilities to extend its non-traditional acquisition strategy,” said Maryann Lawson, product lead for the ARV program. “By initiating a second Rapid Prototyping phase for pre-production development, the program will utilize stand-alone Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) to maintain agility and technical momentum. The program was able leverage the competition from the initial phase to substantiate standalone agreements that are carefully curated with the protections of a FAR based acquisition paired with the flexibilities that OTAs bring.”
“The competitive prototyping phase for the ARV provided a firm basis for Textron and GDLS to demonstrate the feasibility of the Marine Corps' requirements,” said Kim Bowen, deputy program manager for PM LAV. “By fostering a robust sense of competition, the government was able to thoroughly evaluate each vendor's capabilities, significantly driving down program risk prior to the pre-production phase. This environment incentivized both vendors to prove their commitment to delivering a solution that not only meets the Marine Corps' immediate needs but is also designed for future evolution.”
“I am incredibly proud of the program office team and our industry partners for their efforts behind these awards,” said Stephenson. “This past year has been incredibly dynamic with no shortage of challenges. However, the team embraced the new acquisition guidance that focuses on outcomes and accountability – our measure of success was finding creative solutions that prioritized the delivery of game-changing capability such as ARV to the MAGTF.”
After contract award, the USMC expects vehicle deliveries in 4QFY28 and a production decision in 1QFY31.
| Date Taken: | 04.01.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 04.02.2026 12:59 |
| Story ID: | 561835 |
| Location: | QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 61 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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