The Marine Corps is doubling down on its future reconnaissance capabilities, announcing that the second phase of its Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) program will enter development by the end of the decade. This next evolution aims to integrate sophisticated counter-drone technology and long-range precision fires into the heart of the Marine littoral force.
Parallel Tracks: The Decisive Transition to 2029
The Marine Corps is preparing for a pivotal year in 2029, which will see the simultaneous down-select for ARV Increment 1 and the formal kickoff of Increment 2 development. Colonel Christopher Stephenson, Program Manager of Vehicle Systems, highlighted that this strategic overlap is necessary to bridge current production goals with future technological requirements.
Currently, Increment 1 is progressing through pre-production development, with General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) and Textron tasked with delivering 32 prototype vehicles by 2028. As the service evaluates these initial models—which focus on command and control, logistics, and 30-mm autocannon lethality—the groundwork for the more specialized second increment is already being laid.
Increment 2: Lethality, Recovery, and Electronic Warfare
While the initial fleet focuses on establishing a baseline of mobility and firepower, Increment 2 is designed to address the most pressing gaps on the modern battlefield. New details reveal that this phase will introduce three high-tech variants:
- The c-UAS Hunter: A specialized variant designed to provide 24-hour protection against unmanned aerial threats using both kinetic and non-kinetic (electronic) means, while maintaining the ability to engage ground targets.
- Tactical Recovery: A powerhouse support vehicle defined by its high-capacity crane and winch systems, featuring onboard metal welding, cutting tools, and fuel foraging capabilities for sustained field operations.
- Precision Fires: A long-range specialist capable of delivering beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) support to formations up to 40 kilometers away, while doubling as a reconnaissance and electronic attack platform.
