U.S. Marine Corps Selects Norway’s Kongsberg RT20 Turrets for New Reconnaissance Vehicles.

Norway's Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has received a $22.4 million firm-fixed-price contract modification to supply 16 Protector RT20 remote weapon turrets for the U.S. Marine Corps Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle. The award supports the Marine Corps’ effort to replace the aging LAV-25 fleet with a more survivable and digitally integrated reconnaissance platform.

According to information published by the U.S. Department of War on January 27, 2026, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace of Kongsberg, Norway, has been awarded a $22,412,881 firm-fixed-price contract modification to deliver 16 Protector RT20 remote weapon stations. The turret will be integrated onto the U.S. Marine Corps’ Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle, a centerpiece of the service’s broader modernization initiative intended to replace the long-serving LAV-25 8x8 armored combat vehicle. The award reflects continued U.S. confidence in Kongsberg’s remotely operated weapon technologies, which are already fielded across multiple U.S. and allied platforms.
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Concept illustration of the U.S. Marine Corps' future Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV), equipped with a Kongsberg Protector RT20 remote turret. The ARV is designed to replace the legacy LAV-25 in Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalions, offering enhanced mobility, sensor integration, and multi-domain connectivity for modern expeditionary operations. (Picture source: U.S. Marine Corps)

According to information published by the U.S. Department of War on January 27, 2026, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace of Kongsberg, Norway, has been awarded a $22,412,881 firm-fixed-price contract modification to deliver 16 Protector RT20 remote weapon stations. The turret will be integrated onto the U.S. Marine Corps’ Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle, a centerpiece of the service’s broader modernization initiative intended to replace the long-serving LAV-25 8x8 armored combat vehicle. The award reflects continued U.S. confidence in Kongsberg’s remotely operated weapon technologies, which are already fielded across multiple U.S. and allied platforms.

The turret procurement reflects the Marine Corps’ evolving requirements for its Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalions, which are shifting toward networked, multi-domain reconnaissance capabilities under the Force Design 2030 framework. While the RT20 selected for the ARV stems from the same family of Kongsberg remote weapon stations as the one mounted on the Amphibious Combat Vehicle-30 (ACV-30), the two systems are not identical. The ARV configuration features a lighter, more modular design tailored explicitly for integration with reconnaissance-focused platforms, offering greater space for onboard sensors, command-and-control suites, and connectivity for unmanned systems.

Kongsberg’s Protector RT20 is a next-generation remote turret designed to accommodate medium-caliber weapons ranging from 20mm to 30mm. It enables the entire operation under armor, with the core platform featuring stabilized electro-optical sights, thermal imaging, laser rangefinding, and target-tracking systems. The RT20 can be configured for various combat roles and mission sets, offering plug-and-play compatibility with NATO-standard weapons and subsystems. For the ARV application, the RT20 has been optimized for sensor integration, reducing weight and visual signature while maintaining lethality and precision.

The Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle is envisioned as the future backbone of Marine Corps LAR Battalions, replacing the Cold War-era LAV-25 series. LAR Battalions (Light Armored Reconnaissance) are highly mobile formations that conduct mounted and dismounted reconnaissance, surveillance, and security operations in support of the Marine Division. Their mission includes providing early warning, locating and tracking enemy forces, conducting deception operations, and executing limited offensive or defensive actions, including raids.

The ARV program will eventually field three primary variants. The first is the C4/UAS version, which integrates command, control, communications, computers, and unmanned aircraft systems. The second is the ARV-30, which features a 30mm autocannon. The third is the ARV-LOG variant, designed for logistics support. The newly awarded 16 RT20 turrets are expected to be distributed among early production or test vehicles, potentially supporting both the C4/UAS and ARV-30 variants as the program advances toward fielding.

Textron Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) were selected in 2021 to build ARV prototypes. Textron delivered its “Cottonmouth” prototype to the Marine Corps' Nevada Automotive Test Center on December 1, 2022, followed by GDLS on December 23, 2022. These deliveries kicked off an intensive formal evaluation phase, which concluded in the third quarter of fiscal year 2023. Both companies' prototypes feature open-architecture designs, digital mission systems, and are modularly configured to accommodate future subsystems, such as the RT20 turret, advanced sensors, and autonomous capabilities.

Kongsberg’s growing presence in U.S. ground vehicle programs is built on years of integration experience with platforms like the Stryker, JLTV, and now the ACV. Through its U.S. subsidiary in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Kongsberg has established a strong industrial base capable of supporting both domestic production and lifecycle sustainment. Selecting the RT20 for the ARV program not only signals confidence in its modular design but also suggests a preference for turret solutions that offer scalability across multiple vehicle families.

This turret acquisition comes at a time when the Marine Corps is redefining its approach to expeditionary warfare. In the context of stand-in forces and distributed maritime operations, survivable, connected reconnaissance vehicles will be critical for early threat detection and target acquisition. The RT20’s integration into the ARV ensures that these vehicles will be equipped with advanced optical sensors, automated engagement capabilities, and compatibility with future digital fire control networks.

Deliveries of the 16 turrets are expected to begin in the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 and continue into early FY2027, aligning with the next phase of ARV development. A decision on a production vehicle is anticipated in fiscal year 2027, following further testing and operational assessments. While it remains unclear which prototype will be selected for full-rate production, the turret contract confirms that subsystem-level integration is advancing in parallel to platform evaluation.

With adversaries rapidly advancing their own reconnaissance and anti-access capabilities, the ARV’s success will be defined not only by its mobility and survivability but by its ability to act as a forward node in the kill chain. The Protector RT20 turret is designed with that future in mind.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.