TEXTRON UNVEILS ADVANCED RECONNAISSANCE VEHICLE PROTOTYPE

摘要

WASHINGTON -- Textron has unveiled a prototype for the Marine Corps Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) program, which is intended to replace the LAV-25 and expand the scope of the reconnaissance mission. Textron's proposal is dubbed Cottonmouth, and utilizes the IronVision system from Elbit Systems of America. Textron presents Cottonmouth as a next-generation naval sensor node, amphibious scout vehicle, command and control platform, and weapons platform capable of striking enemies beyond line-of-sight. The vehicle would operate as part of a Naval Expeditionary Force. Textron's prototype began requirements testing at the National Automotive Center in February 2021, and subsequent testing will validate the prototype's amphibious capabilities. Textron's senior vice president for land systems David Philips said the Marines want the ARV to have an unmanned aircraft system that can be launched and retrieved. The Marines are providing contractors with a Group 2 UAS for integration. The Marines want the vehicles to weigh less than 18.5 tons, according to Philips. Pictures of Textron's prototype show a vehicle equipped with a Kongsberg Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station-Javelin (CROWS-J) with a .50-caliber machine gun.