(Land) GDLS / Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF)

[Schneemann]

Anbei - ich bin über die GCS-Diskussion im Bundeswehr-Bereich draufgekommen - einmal ein Strang über das Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF)- bzw. New Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV)-Programm der US-Streitkräfte. Quasi geht es um die Entwicklung eines neuen, leichten Kampfpanzers. Ende August wurden nun zwei Exemplare/Prototypen des MPF von General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) ausgeliefert.

Zunächst (Meldung von April):

US Army unveils light tank candidate for US MPF Mobile Protected Firepower program

On April 22, 2020, during a visit of the U.S. secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy to GDLS (General Dynamics Land Systems) facility, the new light tank candidate for the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program of the U.S. Army was presented by the company. [...] In September 2018 the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Army leadership approved Section 804 MTA Rapid Prototyping for MPF (Mobile Protected Firepower) pre-Milestone C activities. This required the fielding of a prototype that could be demonstrated in an operational environment within five years. The MTA Rapid Prototyping contracts required the delivery of 12 preproduction vehicles (each) for rigorous developmental and operational testing, and a Soldier Vehicle Assessment (SVA), to measure prototype performance to requirements and gain user feedback. [...]

The design of the General Dynamics MPF light tank is conventional with the driver and engine at the front, and the turret located at the rear of the hull. The turret architecture is based on the M1 Abrams tank using the M1A2 Sep V3 fire control system and CITV (Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer) armed with one 105 mm cannon. One 12.7mm heavy machine gun is mounted on the commander hatch.

The turret has a crew of three comprising commander, gunner and loader. It is interesting to notice that the U.S Army, like the German army (Bundeswehr) but unlike the Russian army with its T-14 Armata, sticks to its preference for a 4-man crew based on an operational observation: there are many tasks that require four people, like maintenance, guard duties, etc. Moreover, they state that a human loader is as efficient as a mechanical automatic loader, even if the weight of a 105mm round (shell) makes it hard to manipulate, particularly in case of a high rate of fire is needed. [...]

https://www.armyrecognition.com/april_20...ogram.html

Aktuelle Meldung:

BAE Systems, GDLS behind on ‘light tank' prototype deliveries to US Army

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with integration and supply chain issues are preventing BAE Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) from delivering ‘light tank’ prototypes to the US Army on time, Janes has learned. [...] As of 26 August GDLS had delivered two MPF prototypes to the army, with a third slated to be delivered within days, Vice-President of GDLS Bob Lennox explained. [...] BAE Systems also acknowledged prototype delivery delays but did not detail how many they have delivered so far.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-...to-us-army

Quasi haben wir es also mit einem leichten Panzer zu tun, der grob manche architektonischen Züge des M1 trägt, aber nur eine 105-mm-Kanone besitzt. In der Gewichtsklasse, auch wenn hier ein wenig ungenaue Angaben bzw. verschiedene Angaben kursieren, liegt wir bei ca. 30 Tonnen, also im Bereich eines Puma der Schutzstufe A, aber eben mit entsprechender Rohrwaffe.

Schneemann.

[Quintus Fabius]

Griffin III (Prototyp für das NGCV Programm)

Spukt im Prinzip schon seit 2018 als Ersatz für den Bradley herum:

https://defense-update.com/20181008_griffin3.html

https://www.armyrecognition.com/images/s...25_005.jpg

https://www.armyrecognition.com/may_2020..._omfv.html

Meiner Überzeugung nach sollten zukünftige KPz ebenfalls eher in diese Richtung gehen. Stattdessen bietet man hier (MPF) ein abweichendes Modell, den Griffin II an:

https://www.armyrecognition.com/septembe..._army.html

Das amüsante für mich ist, dass beide auf dem Ajax, also dem ASCOD basieren, welchen ich schon vor x-Jahren auch hier im Forum fortwährend als sinnvollere Alternative für den PUMA angeführt habe. Nicht zuletzt aufgrund der hohen Modularität und der sich schon zu diesem Zeitpunkt abzeichnenden Fahrzeugfamilie die auf diesem Typ aufbaut und der zunehmenden Verwendung dieses Typs bei immer mehr europäischen Streitkräften.

Nun kommen da eventuell auch noch die USA hinzu.

[Schneemann]

Army chooses five companies to design future armored combat vehicles with vetronics and machine autonomy

The OMFV is part of a future family of Army combat vehicles to add new capabilities to Army units and replace existing platforms that are getting old.

WARREN, Mich. – U.S. Army land warfare experts are choosing five defense contractors to design next-generation fast armored combat vehicles and vetronics architecture to replace the Army M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle. [...] Contractors chosen to design competing OMFV versions are American Rheinmetall Vehicles LLC in Sterling Heights, Mich.; the BAE Systems Platforms & Services segment in Sterling Heights, Mich.; General Dynamics Land Systems in Sterling Heights, Mich.; Oshkosh Defense LLC in Oshkosh, Wis.; and Point Blank Enterprises Inc. in Miami Lakes, Fla. [...]

The OMFV is part of a future family of Army combat vehicles encapsulated in the Next-Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) program to design several armored vehicles and vetronics to add new capabilities to Army units and replace existing platforms that are nearing the end of their service lives.

The NGCV program contains the OMFV to replace the Bradley Fighting Vehicle; the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) to replace the M113 armored personnel carrier; the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) light tank for Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs); the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) of three unmanned ground vehicles in light, medium, and heavy configurations; and the Decisive Lethality Platform (DLP), the replacement for the M1 Abrams main battle tank.

https://www.militaryaerospace.com/sensor...e-autonomy

Schneemann.

[Schneemann]

US Army's ‘light tank' competition enters limited user-testing phase

The US Army intends to decide which company will build its new ‘light tank' in the April-to-June 2022 timeframe and is currently conducting a limited user test with two different prototypes to help guide this decision.

Ashley John, the Public Affairs Director for the army's Program Executive Office for Ground Combat Systems, gave Janes an update of the service's Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) competition that involves evaluating 12 prototypes built by BAE Systems and another dozen from General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS). Each company received a contract valued up to USD 376 million to build its respective MPF vehicle lot with the initial expectation that all prototypes would be delivered to the army between March 2020 and the end of August 2020. However, neither company met this timetable. [...]

GDLS delivered its 12th and final prototype to the army at the end of December 2020.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/land-...ting-phase

Schneemann.

[Schneemann]

US Army’s light tank competition enters final stretch

WASHINGTON — Two competing light tank prototypes are moving into a U.S. Army limited-user test, marking the final step before the service chooses just one to build for its infantry brigade combat teams. The service selected General Dynamics Land Systems and BAE Systems in December 2018 to each build and deliver 12 prototypes for the Army’s Mobile Protected Firepower, or MPF, program. The vehicle is meant to give IBCTs improved mobility, protection, and direct and offensive fire capability organic to those units and capable against near-peer and peer threats. [...]

GDLS offered a new, lightweight chassis with a high-performance power pack and an advanced suspension, combined with a turret featuring the latest version of the fire control system found in the Abrams main battle tank. [...]

BAE Systems’ design is an updated M8 Buford armored gun system with new capabilities and components. The company experienced some prototype production delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, and it delivered systems months later than GDLS. Soldiers wrapped up that portion of the assessment in early August, according to Jim Miller, BAE’s senior director of business development for combat mission systems, who spoke to Defense News during a recent interview.

https://www.defensenews.com/land/2021/10...l-stretch/

Schneemann

[Schneemann]

US Army eliminates BAE Systems from ‘light tank' competition

BAE Systems delivered its final ‘light tank' prototype to the US Army in early February, one-and-a-half-years later than anticipated, but the company has now been disqualified from competing due to noncompliance issues, two industry sources with knowledge of the programme separately confirmed to Janes. The decision leaves General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) as the only competitor still vying for the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) contract.

Neither the army, BAE Systems, nor GDLS wanted to discuss the state of the MPF programme, all citing the ongoing competition. [...] Ashley John, the Public Affairs Director for the army's Program Executive Office for Ground Combat Systems, wrote in a 1 March statement to Janes. She noted that the source selection process is still ongoing, and that the army anticipates making a final production selection in mid-2022 and will reach the first unit equipped milestone in 2025.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/land-...ompetition

Schneemann

[Schneemann]

GDLS wins US Army's ‘light tank' competition, deliveries to begin in early 2024

General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) will build the US Army's new ‘light tank' and has received a USD1.14 billion contract to produce up to 96 vehicles, according to several service officials.

The army has tasked GDLS with producing the first 26 Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) vehicles with initial deliveries scheduled to begin within 19 months, Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems Brigadier General Glenn Dean told reporters on 28 June. The army plans to buy a total of 504 platforms but service leaders may adjust this number over time.[...]

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/land-...early-2024

Schneemann

[26er]

Hierzu ein Video über die Gliederung der Bataillone Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfVeoI3euvQ

Je eine Kompanie wird einer Brigade zugeteilt.

[Schneemann]

US Army to receive intial production of 24 Mobile Protected Firepower Vehicles in Q1 of 2024

SUNDAY, 28 AUGUST 2022 - Following the announcement of the U.S. Army on June 29, 2022, that General Dynamics Land Systems was selected to provide its Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF), initial production of 24 MPFs will be delivered to the U.S. Army in the first quarter of 2024 as part of the $1.14bn contract to supply 96 vehicles. [...]

On June 29, 2022, General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics announced that its Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) offering has been chosen by the U.S. Army through a competitive process to provide enhanced firepower for Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs). The Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) award is valued at $1.14 billion.

The MPF is a 38-ton tracked armored vehicle capable to provide soldiers with speed, protection, lethality and the ability to wage a multi-domain battle, working in concert with other ground forces to overwhelm the enemy with multiple simultaneous challenges. It is based on a light tank conventional layout with the driver and engine at the front, and the turret located at the rear of the hull. The turret has a crew of three including a commander, gunner, and loader.

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_..._2024.html

Schneemann

[Schneemann]

Meldung ist von März, aber ich bin eben darüber gestolpert...

US MPF programme gets a boost 

The US Department of Defense boosts its Mobile Protected Firepower system production to consolidate infantry divisions.

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded General Dynamics (GD) Land Systems a $15m contract modification on 27 March for the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) system already in production. [...]

GD Land Systems won the US Army’s MPF competition to provide enhanced firepower to IBCTs in June 2022. The company received a low-rate-initial-production contract worth $1.14bn for up to 96 MPF combat vehicles. The Army is anticipated to purchase more than 504 MPF combat vehicles through 2035, to allocate 14 MPFs to each IBCT. The latest contract is part of this boost to US MPF production. [...] Instead of 120mm ammunition that is the standard across NATO partners, the MPF’s main weapon uses 105mm ordnance that is uncommon enough to be a concern in the face of the current limited quantity of on-hand, serviceable 105mm ammunition Army Technology has commented in the past.

https://www.army-technology.com/uncatego...s-a-boost/

Schneemann

[Schneemann]

General Dynamics to Unveil Final Version of US Army M10 Booker Combat Vehicle at AUSA 2023

Washington D.C., United States, October 5, 2023 - At the next edition of AUSA the Association of United States Army (AUSA) defense exhibition that will be held this month in Washington D.C., General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) will showcase the final version of the U.S. Army M10 Booker combat vehicle to the public for the first time. Previously known as the MPF (Mobile Protected Firepower), this unveiling marks a pivotal moment in the defense sector. [...]

The M10 Booker is an armored fighting vehicle developed for the United States Army by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) and based on the design of a light tank. Originating from the United States, this vehicle was designed by General Dynamics Land Systems and has a mass that ranges roughly between 38 to 42 tonnes. Its primary armament is a 105 mm M35 tank gun. In terms of secondary armament, the M10 Booker is equipped with a 12.7 mm M2HB heavy machine gun and a 7.62 mm M240B machine gun. Powered by a diesel engine that delivers 1,070 hp (800 kW), it uses an Allison Transmission 3040 MX cross-drive and features a hydropneumatic suspension system. The M10 Booker can cover an operational range of 250 to 350 miles (400 to 560 km) and can reach a maximum speed of 45 mph (72 km/h).

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_..._2023.html

Schneemann

[Schneemann]

GDLS M10 Booker vehicle offers new firepower for US Army Infantry Brigade Combat Team

At the AUSA 2023 event, the Association of United States Army Conference & Exhibition that takes place in Washington D.C. from the 9 to 11 October 2023, General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) displayed the M10 Booker, a vehicle set to enhance the firepower and lethality of the Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT). Equipped with a 105mm gun, it's designed to target fortifications, gun placements, trenches, and also offers defense against enemy armored units. [...]

The U.S. Army has been in search of a lightweight tank since the M551 Sheridan's retirement. The M1128 MGS served as a temporary fix, but it had its mechanical issues. The M10, even with its weight comparable to the T-72, is being sourced for armored cavalry divisions. The M1A2 Abrams tank is simply too heavy for this purpose, leading to the M10's introduction. [...]

There are whispers that the U.S. Army intends to establish an M10 Booker battalion at the division tier.

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_..._team.html

Schneemann

[Schneemann]

Passt hier wohl rein - obwohl ich selbst mit dem Konzept (als Proponent des schweren MBTs) immer noch hadere...

IAV 2024: First M10 Booker combat vehicle to be delivered in February

The US Army's first M10 combat vehicle is scheduled to be delivered in February, Janes learnt at Defence iQ's International Armour Vehicles (IAV) 2024 conference held in London from 22 to 25 January. The first phase of low-rate initial production (LRIP 1) of the M10 began in the first quarter (Q1) of fiscal year (FY) 2023, following a USD1.4 billion contract award to General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) in June 2022.

The company announced on 6 July 2023 that it had received a USD257.6 million contract modification for LRIP 2. Initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) is planned to commence in Q4 of FY 2024. The first unit equipped (FUE) with the M10 is planned for 2025.

The vehicle is designed to deliver a mobile, protected direct fire capability to US Army infantry brigade combat teams (BCTs), with its XM35 105 mm main armament providing lethal and sustained fires against enemy armoured vehicles, hardened fortifications, and dismounted soldiers.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/land-...n-february

Schneemann