Textron Systems has completed building the Cottonmouth advanced reconnaissance vehicle (ARV) prototype vehicle, as part of the US Marine Corps’ (USMC) ARV programme.
The milestone was achieved four months after the completion of critical design review (CDR) in April.
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In July last year, the USMC selected Textron Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) to deliver a prototype vehicle for the ARV programme.
Associated work started after the team performed an extensive evaluation of the Alpha prototype vehicle over the last year.
The prototype vehicle has already completed the first round of Contractor Verification Testing, which was held from 1 to 12 August.
It was conducted at Textron Systems in Greater New Orleans, Louisiana, US.
The successful conclusion of this testing ensured that the vehicle can fulfil the USMC’s requirements for the Force Design 2030 efforts.
The prototype will further undergo a series of evaluations, prior to its delivery to the USMC for conducting other US government-led testing.
Textron Systems Land and Sea Systems senior vice-president David Phillips said: “The team did an excellent job accomplishing the required design milestones to create a vehicle that meets and exceeds our customers highest priority requirements, and in doing do in less than a year.
“Considering the complexity of the build, it’s a huge accomplishment.”
Textron Systems’ Cottonmouth ARV prototype comes under the ground vehicle system other transaction authority (OTA), through the National Advanced Mobility Consortium.
The USMC is procuring ARVs to support its future Mobile Reconnaissance Battalions.
The requirements involve ARVs to be connected, light, highly mobile and capable of countering littoral water obstacles, including estuaries, rivers light surf and bays.
