Marine Corps postpones ARV industry day pending third phase of force design work

The Marine Corps will delay its industry day for the Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle as it openly questions the program's future in the kind of fight the Navy is preparing for in the Pacific region.

A government solicitation posted today says the industry day is postponed "until a Marine Corps decision on the ARV way ahead this summer."

"Given the uncertain impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and as a way of providing the Marine Corps more decision space while planners execute Phase III of Commandant Marine Corp's (CMC) Force Development, the PM will focus efforts on targeted Industry Request for Information (RFIs) and strategic small group engagements," the posting reads.

The Marine Corps last month unveiled a long-awaited report on its force design initiative, which is an effort to assess what Marines need to fight a near-peer threat like China or Russia in 10 years. The report, which details the first two completed phases of the force design work, raises questions about the Marine Corps' ARV program.

"I remain unconvinced that additional wheeled, manned armored ground reconnaissance units are the best and only answer -- especially in the Indo-Pacific region," Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger wrote in the report.

"We need to see more evidence during Phase III to support this conclusion before engaging in an expansion of our existing capacity, or committing billions of dollars in procurement funds towards the acquisition of an Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle," he added.

Berger said the ARV would require additional analysis in the third phase of the Marine Corps force design.

The Navy is in the early phases of pursuing a replacement for the Light Armored Vehicle. Two companies -- General Dynamics Land Systems and Science Applications International Corp. -- are working on technology demonstrators slated for competition at the end of 2020.