Please Support our Sponsors

Cottonmouth Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle

Specifications

Country of Origin/Used by:	USA
First Produced/Service Dates:	2022 (First Prototypes Delivered)
Manufactured by:	Textron Systems & Elbit Systems of America
Crew:	2+5
Armament:	Prototype: (1) 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun and (1) FGM-148 Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Weapon. Production Vehicle: Multiple Weapons Systems, depending on variant; including a turret able to support a Medium Caliber Weapon (20mm to 40mm).
Engine:	Diesel?  (performance of speeds up to 65mph)
Miscellaneous Info:	The Cottonmouth Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) is one of the two "official" finalists for the US Marine Corps (USMC) Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle Program.  The Cottonmouth was first privately developed by Textron Systems and Elbit Systems of America prior to the formal ARV Program announcement by the USMC, in approximately 2019.  The purpose of the ARV Program was to select a comparable replacement for the venerable Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) series of vehicles. However, as the program matured, the purpose of the ARV changed from a simple replacement of the LAV, to a much more capable and flexible weapons system in terms of communications/networking, reconnaissance and surveillance.  Like the LAV, the new vehicle family was to be amphibious and to consist of a number of variants to perform different tasks and duties. The six (6) proposed variants are described as 30mm Auto-Cannon & Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicle, Command, Control, Communications & Computers/Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C4/UAS) Vehicle, Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Counter-UAS) Vehicle, Logistics, Organic Precision Fire-Mounted (OPF-M) Vehicle and Recovery Vehicle. Approximately 500+ vehicles are projected for purchase by the USMC.  The other formal ARV Program contender is the General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) Advanced Recon Vehicle (ARV).  Both Textron and GDLS submitted their first prototypes to the USMC in late 2022, with testing commencing in 2023.  Reportedly, a selection of the winner of the competition will be announced later that year, with production starting in 2024.  As a side-note, there is a third vehicle being considered by the USMC as an ARV candidate, although it was not formally submitted as a contender. That vehicle is the BAE Systems Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV). Since the ACV was already selected by the USMC for their new amphibious assault vehicle, they requested that the series also be considered for the ARV.  The ACV was to be assessed as produced, but with added C4/UAS equipment being fitted.
Data Sheet Available:	None Available

Photos

Reference	Source/Provider
Cottonmouth ARV Photos	Textron Systems

References Available

Online

Printed

Hobby Modeling

Kits and Accessories

Model Photos