Marine Corps to hold virtual ARV industry day in February

The Marine Corps is planning a virtual industry day for its Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle as the program continues progressing through a prototype assessment phase, according to a Tuesday announcement.

The industry day is scheduled for Feb. 29 and will take place via a virtual platform, the notice states, adding that more information on the event will be posted to SAM.gov “on or about” Jan. 19.

The notice was released by Army Contracting Command, which is serving as the ARV contracting authority on behalf of the Marine Corps’ program manager for Light Armored Vehicles.

Since early fiscal year 2023, the Marine Corps has been testing ARV prototypes produced by contractors General Dynamics Land Systems, Textron Systems and BAE Systems in a competitive prototype assessment phase that is now expected to stretch into FY-26.

The service plans to add an additional ARV mission role variant -- equipped with a 30mm gun and turret -- to this assessment. Only two contracts for ARV-30 prototypes will be awarded, according to a service spokesperson, who said this approach “supports the Marine Corps decision to pursue a purpose-built ARV solution.”

The program office plans to publish a request for proposals in the second quarter of FY-25 to advance the program into the engineering and manufacturing development phase, with a contract award anticipated in the second quarter of FY-26.

The Marine Corps’ FY-24 budget request includes $63.6 million in research and development funding for the program.