Textron Systems Cottonmouth ARV Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle prototype for USMC hits major milestone.

Textron Systems on August 23 announced that they have completed the prototype vehicle build of the Cottonmouth ARV as a part of their Ground Vehicle System Other Transaction Authority via the National Advanced Mobility Consortium. The team started building following extensive testing with the Alpha prototype vehicle over the last year and completion of the Critical Design Review in April of this year.
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The U.S. Marine Corps requires a family of vehicles to equip its future Mobile Reconnaissance Battalions. These vehicles must be light, connected, highly mobile and capable of negotiating littoral water obstacles such as bays, estuaries, rivers and light surf (Picture source: Textron Systems)

The prototype vehicle build was completed in four months – an impressive feat considering the supply chain issues impacting the entire defense industry. Since the Cottonmouth ARV’s debut last year and Textron Systems’ selection by the United States Marine Corps as one of two companies to deliver a prototype vehicle for the ARV, the team has been hard at work to deliver the vehicle in December 2022.

“The team did an excellent job accomplishing the required design milestones to create a vehicle that meets and exceeds our customer's highest priority requirements, and in doing so in less than a year. Considering the complexity of the build, it’s a huge accomplishment,” said David Phillips, Senior Vice President, Land and Sea Systems at Textron Systems.

The U.S. Marine Corps requires a family of vehicles to equip its future Mobile Reconnaissance Battalions. These vehicles must be light, connected, highly mobile and capable of negotiating littoral water obstacles such as bays, estuaries, rivers and light surf. With its clean-sheet design focused on these requirements, the Cottonmouth ARV is a next-generation amphibious reconnaissance vehicle that is poised to be the most advanced military vehicle to date. The vehicle’s open system architecture allows for different mission roles and capabilities to be integrated for systems today and well into the future.

“We can’t always predict what the next requirement will be. But we can ensure our vehicle systems are rugged, survivable, reliable and easily adaptable for growth. Whether it’s loitering munitions, counter unmanned aerial systems technology, mesh networks or something yet to be invented, this vehicle will enable our customers to incorporate it,” said Phillips.

The vehicle was put through its first round of Contractor Verification Testing from August 1-12, which took place at Textron Systems in Greater New Orleans, Louisiana. The successful testing is the first step to ensure that the vehicle meets USMC expectations and is the first in a series of rigorous testing that the vehicle will go through before delivery to the USMC for U.S. government-led testing.

The successful first round of Contractor Verification Testing is proof that the ARV program is the right path for the Marine Corps. Textron Systems aligns with our customer’s needs – supporting and helping achieve the Commandant’s Force Design 2030. Cottonmouth is the integrative and unmatched solution for the future reconnaissance/counter-reconnaissance battlefield.

Cottonmouth has a 6x6 compact build that allows four vehicles to fit on a single Ship to Shore Connector, or SSC, enhancing the Marine Corps’ ability to support Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations. (Picture source: Textron Systems)

Textron Systems on May 4, 2021, announced the unveiling of Cottonmouth, a vehicle purpose-built for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) program. Cottonmouth is a next-generation Naval Sensor Node as an amphibious scout vehicle that offers cutting-edge sensor technology. Leveraging Textron Systems’ history and range of specialty military vehicle experience, Cottonmouth delivers advanced maneuverability and a synergized sensor system to enhance reconnaissance operations.

Cottonmouth has a 6x6 compact build that allows four vehicles to fit on a single Ship to Shore Connector, or SSC, enhancing the Marine Corps’ ability to support Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations. Textron Systems’ vehicle is equipped with multi-spectrum sensors, providing seamless communication between the Navy and Marine Corps to employ unmanned systems and joint-warfighting weapons systems. This provides the next-generation decision dominance needed to defeat threats beyond line of sight. Among the integrated sensors is teammate Elbit Systems of America’s IronVision™, which uses “see-through” technology to provide the vehicle with advanced visibility and 3600 situational awareness.

“We listened to the customer and have invested in developing and producing Cottonmouth as a purpose-built vehicle to give the U.S. Marine Corps the amphibious mobility they need for quarterbacking the future fight,” said Senior Vice President David Phillips of Textron Systems. “Along with Textron Systems’ extensive experience designing, producing, fielding and supporting high-performance armored vehicles, our Cottonmouth offers the Marine Corps a low-risk, mission-oriented solution. It is representative of a revolutionary, not evolutionary, system”