Army search for light tank to upgrade combat vehicles fleet is down to two armored vehicle designs

WARREN, Mich. – The U.S. Army has picked two defense contractors to proceed with development of a light tank to provide additional firepower for its airborne and dismounted infantry brigades. The Drive reports. Continue reading original article

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

19 Dec. 2018 -- The program is part the service’s larger effort to modernize its armored vehicle fleets amid the U.S. military’s push to be better prepared for a potential conflict with conventional nation-state opponent, especially a great power adversary, such as Russia or China.

The Army awarded the deals to BAE Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), worth more than $375 million and $335 million respectively, on Dec. 17, 2018. The Army rejected a third bid from a team-up of U.S. defense company SAIC, Singapore’s ST Engineering, and Belgium’s CMI Defense.

Each defense contractor will build 12 prototype combat vehicles within the next 14 months for tests as part of the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program. Both of the vehicles are tracked designs with manned turrets. BAE’s updated M8 Armored Gun System (AGS), which it had previously been referring to as the Expeditionary Light Tank (ELT), features a 105-millimeter cannon, while the GDLS Griffin II has a 120-millimeter main gun.

Related: Near-peer conflict bringing back heavy armored combat vehicles, and with it more vetronics upgrades

Related: Army set sights on sophisticated vetronics and technology for future main battle tanks

Related: Raytheon to build 22 new anti-tank turrets for Marine Corps Light Armored Vehicle

John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics

Ready to make a purchase? Search the Military & Aerospace Electronics Buyer's Guide for companies, new products, press releases, and videos