US Marines Select General Dynamics, Textron to Build New Recon Vehicle

The US Marine Corps has picked General Dynamics Land Systems and Textron Systems for the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle 30mm autocannon (ARV-30) prototype contract.

The firms will design, develop, and manufacture their respective prototypes as a potential replacement for the Light Armored Vehicle 25mm autocannon variant (LAV-25) first inducted in the 1980s.

The Marines field an aging fleet of around 600 LAVs, used primarily for mobile reconnaissance.

$6.8 Billion Production Cost 

General Dynamics and Textron have reportedly been awarded $10.9 million and $11.8 million, respectively, for the prototypes, with evaluation taking place in fiscal 2025.

The ARV-30’s production cost, including other variants, could be between $1.8 and $6.8 billion over a five-year period, according to a 2022 Congressional Research Service report.

Superior Features

The ARV-30’s superior features are intended to enable it to counter threats traditionally dealt with by heavier armored systems.

They include an automatic 30mm medium-caliber cannon, anti-armor capability, modern command, control, communications, and computers, including radios and networks derived from the Capabilities Development Directorate, and a full range of advanced sensors.

Weapon Commonality With ACV-30

It will use the turret and weapon system of the Amphibious Combat Vehicle-30, according to the Marine Corps.

However, a smaller design and lighter weight will ensure faster deployment and stealthier operations in various terrains.

“Ensuring commonality is crucial, especially for the Marine Corps’ capacity to maintain weapon systems with limited fleets,” Program Manager Light Armored Vehicles Steve Myers explained.

“The prototyping of the ARV-30 allows the government to test and confirm the requirements before entering the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase.”