US Marine Corps Helping Test New ARV

General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) is continuing to test variants of its new Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) with the U.S. Marine Corps.

As per a recent press statement, the firm has completed further testing of the Command, Control, Communications, Computers/Unmanned Aerial Systems (C4/UAS) version of the ARV after a rigorous programme which ran from March to December 2024 at the Michigan Technological University Keweenaw Research Center (KRC) in Calumet, Michigan, and the U.S. Army’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC), Detroit Arsenal in Warren, in the same state. 

The firm noted: “The C4/UAS ARV variant is built to serve as the Marine Corps’ ‘quarterback’ on the mobile and multi-domain battlefield. It connects to an array of onboard and off-board sensors, plus UAS and, in the future, ground and water robotic systems.”

This year is expecting to finish manufacturing and deliver a prototype ARV-30mm for testing, as well as handing over a second Systems Integration Lab (SIL) replicating the interior of the C4/UAS variant for training. 

Richard Trotter, GDLS’ ARV Programme Director, commented: “The testing and demonstration activities last year helped us collect additional data to ensure we can meet or exceed the Marine Corps’ requirements for ARV, especially in the critical area of maintenance, logistics and training.

“We are confident we can achieve key performance requirements in these areas as we holistically design the strategic ARV capability.”

Testing has included Marines from across the Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) and maintenance communities. Marc Shepard, ARV Programme Manager, added: “Partnering with the Marines in the ARV testing and demonstrations provides very valuable feedback.”

• You can read more details on the GDLS website