Textron Systems Corporation has delivered a prototype of its Cottonmouth vehicle, which has been purpose-built for the US Marine Corps’ Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle program.
The prototype that was delivered on December 1 is the second iteration of the vehicle, following the original Alpha prototype, and has undergone approximately 3,000 miles of testing.
Textron is pitted against General Dynamics in the US Marine Corps’ program to replace the Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) that has supported Marine Air-Ground Task Force missions on the battlefield since the 1980s.
The Marines plan for a number of ARV variants, with the first being a Command, Control, Communications, and Computers/Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C4/UAS) version.
In July last year, the service awarded Textron Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems contracts for prototype deliveries. According to plans, the service could spend between $1.8 billion and $6.8 billion for the new fleet of vehicles.
The Cottonmouth is designed to serve as a naval sensor node, providing lightweight multi-modal capabilities for the Marines in line with the service’s Force Design 2030 vision. The amphibious 6×6 platform is equipped for sustained reconnaissance, with organic unmanned systems capabilities and multi-spectrum sensors that allow for seamless communication between the US Navy and Marine Corps.
