General Dynamics Land Systems announced today that it has successfully completed further testing of the 30mm variant of its Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) with the U.S. Marine Corps. The ARV is an armored vehicle program initiated by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) to replace the aging LAV-25 family of vehicles, which has been in service since 1983. General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) is leading the development of the ARV-30 variant, which features a 30mm autocannon. Principal test locations from March 2025 to January 2026 included the U.S. Army’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC), the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Mich., the Michigan National Guard Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center in Grayling, Mich., and U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. The development of an ARV-30mm variant represents the program advancing to another phase of capability. Adding more variants will bolster the suite of Marine Corps capabilities envisioned to dominate the future ground reconnaissance deep fight. The modernized 30mm autocannon variant is highly capable in enhancing digital battle management, mobility, survivability and lethality.
A central part of future Marine Corps Mobile Reconnaissance Battalions, the ARV connects to an array of onboard and off-board sensors, plus unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and, in the future, ground and water robotic systems. The General Dynamics Land Systems design ensures growth margins and modular open architecture to rapidly incorporate new technology as it develops. In anticipation of potential future requirements, it also incorporates the company’s Next Generation Electronic Architecture, enabling artificial intelligence functionality and control of robotic systems. Highlights from Marine Corps-directed and company-led tests and demonstrations in 2025 and early 2026 include land-mobility testing, ocean swim capability, and lethality. The ARV-30mm and the Command, Control, Communications, Computer, UAS (C4/UAS) prototype will continue evaluation by the U.S. government for the remainder of 2026.
“Partnering with the Marines in the ARV testing and demonstrations enables continuous innovation and improvement in the design. Their collaborative, operator-informed feedback is essential as we aim to develop the total package of capabilities the ARV family will deliver to future commanders,” added Chris Dell, ARV Program Manager at General Dynamics Land Systems.
“The testing and demonstration activities last year and in early 2026 helped us collect data to ensure we can meet or exceed the Marine Corps’ requirements for ARV, especially in the critical areas of land and water mobility and lethality. We remain forward-thinking about achieving key performance requirements in these areas as we holistically design the ARV capability and competitively position ourselves for the next phase of the program. We have said this before and will continue to say it: The ARV is highly mobile on land and in the water, allowing Marines to sense, communicate and connect to kill webs on the future battlefield like never befor. Recent water mobility tests – including our cold-water testing in snow and ice – continue to validate our innovative swim technologies, among other functions. We pride ourselves on delivering capabilities that will be durable, reliable and affordable over the program’s life cycle, and we look forward to continuing our long partnership with the Marines and contributing to their effort to make the ARV a transformational reconnaissance capability,” said Richard Trotter, ARV Program Director at General Dynamics Land Systems.
Designed as part of the Marine Corps’ modernization efforts, the ARV is intended to provide enhanced mobility, reconnaissance capabilities, and integrated electronic warfare (EW) functions. The U.S. Marine Corps plans for a number of ARV variants. The first variant is the Command, Control, Communications and Computers/Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ARV C4/UAS) version and the second variant is the ARV-30, which is a variant armed with a 30 mm autocannon. General Dynamics Land Systems has successfully tested its Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) Command, Control, Communications, Computers/Unmanned Aerial Systems (C4/UAS) variant with the U.S. Marine Corps. Designed for future Mobile Reconnaissance Battalions, the ARV acts as the “quarterback” on a multi-domain battlefield, connecting to sensors, UAS, and future robotic systems. Its design offers growth flexibility with a modular open architecture, allowing for the rapid integration of new technologies.The Marine Corps expects to procure approximately 500 ARV-30s.
