Textron Systems has been awarded a $450 million pre-production contract for the US Marine Corps’ Cottonmouth Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV). The deal includes 16 vehicles in three variants — C4UAS, 30mm, and Logistics — designed to support Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations.
The contract also covers three systems integration labs and four blast hulls, with the vehicles set to undergo government testing after delivery to confirm performance and program requirements.
Developed from scratch in 2019, the Cottonmouth features a modular open architecture and is built in Slidell, Louisiana, with design work carried out in Hunt Valley, Maryland. The C4UAS variant supports integration of robotic and autonomous systems, while the 30mm version provides firepower and anti-armor capability. The Logistics variant is intended for supply and support missions.
The USMC has already received early versions of the C4UAS and 30mm vehicles for testing. According to Textron, the platform is expected to enhance reconnaissance missions with improved mobility, adaptability, and battlefield coordination.
The announcement comes as the USMC advances the next phase of the ARV program, with Textron and General Dynamics Land Systems competing to replace the existing Light Armored Vehicle fleet. The program supports the Force Design 2030 plan, shifting focus toward expeditionary naval operations in the Indo-Pacific. Deliveries are planned by FY2028, with a production decision expected in FY2031.
