Army eyes new lightweight, maneuverable battle tank to transform land warfare

The U.S. Army is evaluating plans to build prototypes of a new highly deployable lightweight mobile protected firepower armored vehicle that is expected to change land warfare by bringing new options to help advance infantry as it maneuvers toward enemy attack -- and outmatching Russian equivalents. Long-range precision fire, coordinated air and ground assault, mechanized force-on-force armored vehicle attacks, and drone threats all are changing so quickly that maneuvering U.S. Army infantry needs better firepower from battle tanks to advance on major adversaries in war, Army leaders explain. The Army is evaluating industry proposals in anticipation of awarding developmental deals by next year — with prototypes to follow shortly thereafter. The service's request to industry describes the Mobile Protected Firepower program as providing integrated brigade combat teams with direct-fire, as well as long-range and cyber-resilient capability for forcible early entry operations. The effort intends to find the optimal blend of lethality, mobility and survivability. Senior Army leaders say that the new Mobile Protected Firepower program will be more survivable and superior than its Russian equivalent.