Updated January 6, 2023
Marine Corps Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV)
What Is the Advanced Reconnaissance
Vehicle (ARV)?
Program Status
The Marines plan for a number of ARV variants—referred
According to the Marine Corps, the Advanced
to as a “family of vehicles.” The first variant is the
Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) is planned to be a new
Command, Control, Communications and
armored vehicle family to replace the Light Armored
Computers/Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C4/UAS) version.
Vehicle (LAV):
Reportedly, on July 16, 2021, the Marines selected Textron
Since the 1980s, the Light Armored Vehicle (LAV)
Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems to build
has supported Marine Air-Ground Task Force
ARV prototypes with prototype delivery expected in the
missions on the battlefield. While the LAV remains
first quarter of FY2023 with evaluation of the prototypes
operationally effective, the life cycle of this system
concluding in the third quarter FY2023. Textron reportedly
is set to expire in the mid-2030s…. The Advanced
delivered its ARV prototypes, known as the
“Cottonmouth
Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) will be highly
,” to the Marine Corps’ Nevada Automotive
mobile, networked, transportable, protected, and
Test Center on December 1, 2022. General Dynamics
reportedly delivered its ARV prototypes to the Marines on
lethal. The capability will provide, sensors,
December 23, 2022. The delivery of these two prototypes
communication systems and lethality options to
marked the beginning of the formal government evaluation
overmatch threats that have historically been
process.
addressed with more heavily armored systems.
ARV Desired Operational Capabilities
Figure 1. Textron Cottonmouth ARV Prototype
A Marine Corps May 2019 briefing describes some of the
ARV’s desired operational capabilities:
an automatic medium-caliber cannon;
anti-armor capability to defeat close-in heavy armor
threats;
precision-guided munitions (PGMs) to defeat threats
beyond the engagement range of threat systems;
unmanned systems swarm capability to provide
persistent, multifunction munitions;
advanced, networked, multifunctional electronic warfare
(EW) capabilities;
a modern command-and-control suite and a full range of
sensors;
Source: Defense Daily, “GD Submits Prototype Proposal For Marine
Corps ARV, SAIC Is Out,” May 6, 2021.
organic unmanned aerial and ground systems
(UAS/UGS) that can be deployed from the ARV;
Figure 2. General Dynamics ARV Prototype
active and passive vehicle protection; and
robust cross-country/on-road mobility performance with
shore-to-shore water mobility.
ARV in Marine Corps Force Structure
The ARV was originally intended to be the primary combat
system in Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR)
Battalions. The mission of the LAR Battalion is to conduct
mounted and dismounted reconnaissance, surveillance, and
security operations. LAR Battalions are also expected to
conduct offensive and defensive missions and conduct
deception operations and raids to create decisive conditions
for the Marine Division and the supported unit commander.
Source: Seapower, “General Dynamics Land Systems Delivers
Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle Prototype to U.S. Marine Corps,”
January 5, 2023.
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Marine Corps Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV)
The ARV and the Marine Corps 2030
FY2023 ARV Budget Request
Force Design Initiative
In March 2020, the Marines undertook a major force design
Table 1. FY2023 ARV Budget Request
initiative planned to occur over the next 10 years. The
Total
Marine Corps intends to redesign the force for naval
Total Request
Request
expeditionary warfare and to better align itself with the
Funding Category
($M)
(Qty.)
National Defense Strategy. In February 2021, the Marines
RDT&E
$70.583
—
updated the Secretary of Defense on the progress on force
design initiatives. The March 2020 force design initiative
Source: United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2023
plan raises questions that some have about the role or even
Budget Request, Navy Justification Book, Volume 2 of 5, Research,
the desirability of the ARV in future force design.
Development, Test & Evaluation, April 2022, p. 699.
According to the Commandant of the Marine Corps,
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test & Evaluation; $M =
General David Berger:
U.S. dollars in mil ions; Qty. = FY2023 procurement quantities.
While I have repeatedly stated that all-domain
Table 2. FY2023 ARV Authorizations and
reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance will be
Appropriations
a critical element of any future contingency, I
Total
remain unconvinced that additional wheeled,
Funding
Authorized Appropriated
Request
manned armored ground reconnaissance units are
Category
($M)
($M)
(Qty.)
the best and only answer – especially in the Indo-
RDT&E
$70.583
$70.583
—
Pacific region. We need to see more evidence
TOTAL
$70.583
$70.583
—
during Phase III to support this conclusion before
Sources: Authorized: P.L. 117-263, H.R. 7776—James M. Inhofe
engaging in an expansion of our existing capacity,
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, December
or committing billions of dollars in procurement
27, 2022, p. 739. Appropriated: Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus
funds towards the acquisition of an Advanced
Appropriations Bil , H.R. 2617, Division C—Department of Defense
Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) (see page 10).
Appropriations Act, 2023, December 19, 2022, p. 91E.
In the Marine’s February 2021 force design update to the
Secretary of Defense, the Commandant further noted:
Considerations for Congress
Oversight questions Congress could consider include the
The 12 Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR)
following:
Companies identified in the initial Force Design
Report must be re-evaluated in light of the emerging
In view of the Commandant’s statements in 2020, 2021,
concept of multi-domain mobile reconnaissance.
and 2022 regarding the need for the ARV, what is the
This may affect the overall requirement for armored
Marine Corps’ current official position on the
land mobility in the form of the Advanced
operational requirement to procure the ARV?
Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) (see pages 5-6).
If the requirement for the service’s LAR companies and
In the Marine’s May 2022 force design update to the
the ARV “must be re-evaluated,” as stated in the
Secretary of Defense, the Commandant directed the
February 2021 update, what are the Marines’ plans to
Marines to:
reevaluate this requirement? If there is to be a
reevaluation, when will the results be communicated to
Review and validate all assumptions regarding
Congress?
programmed or potential future capabilities, such as
the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)-30 and
For additional information on the Marine Corps 2030 Force
Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) (see
Design Initiative, see CRS Insight IN11281, New U.S. Marine
page 9).
Corps Force Design Initiatives, by Andrew Feickert.
These three statements arguably raise questions regarding
For additional information on the Marine’s Amphibious Combat
the future of the ARV program, seemingly implying the
Vehicle (ACV), see CRS Report R42723, Marine Corps
ARV might not be the best solution for the Marines’
Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV): Background and Issues for
reconnaissance needs.
Congress, by Andrew Feickert.
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
IF11831
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Marine Corps Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV)
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11831 · VERSION 9 · UPDATED