Infantry Squad Vehicle program approved for full-rate production (5. April 2023)
DETROIT ARSENAL, Mich. — The U.S. Army’s Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) program was approved by the Program Executive Officer for Combat Support & Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS) on March 30 to transition to Full-Rate Production, or FRP. This green light represents a major Army acquisition programmatic milestone in “motorizing” Infantry Brigade Combat Teams, Security Force Assistance Brigades, as well as Army Ranger units. The Army Acquisition Objective currently stands at 2,593 ISVs.
The Army’s newest light tactical vehicle is dubbed a “better boot,” and its basic operational capabilities include:
Nine-Soldier squad carrying capability
3,200-lb. payload
External sling load/external lift by UH-60/CH-47 helicopters
Low-velocity air drop by fixed-wing C-130 and C-17 transport
Exceptional mobility over a wide variety of terrain.
Reliability testing concluded earlier this year, which completed the ISV production qualification test.
To date, the Army has accepted more than 300 ISVs and has fielded three brigade sets of 59 vehicles, for a total of 177. The program is on track to continue to meet fielding plans, with two Brigade sets fielding this June.
General Dynamics Land Systems Awarded $258 Million by U.S. Army for 26 Additional M10 Booker Combat Vehicles (6. Juli 2023)
STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – General Dynamics Land Systems announced today that it was awarded a $257.6 million U.S. Army contract modification for the second phase of M10 Booker Low Rate Initial Production of the newly named M10 Booker Combat Vehicle, formerly known as Mobile Protected Firepower.
This latest award calls up 26 additional Booker vehicles.
General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $257,602,312 modification (P00078) to contract W56HZV-19-C-0036 for M10 Booker low-rate initial production. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan; Anniston, Alabama; and Lima, Ohio, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 18, 2025. Fiscal 2023 procurement of weapons and tracked combat vehicles, Army funds in the amount of $257,602,312 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
IAV 2024 – US Army: M10 Booker, a thorough test for MTA
Shortly after the Milestone C approval in Q3 FY22 a Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract was issued to produce 96 M10 Bookers. LRIP 1 includes the production of 28 vehicles; according to data provided at IAV 2024 seven M10s will be dedicated to technical tests while 13 will be given to the users for operational testing. First deliveries are expected in February 2024 with the last LRIP 1 M10 to be delivered in Q1 FY25, with LRIP 2 deliveries starting in Q1 FY25 aimed at the First Unit Equipped (FUE), and LRIP 3 ones in Q1 FY26. Tests will run until mid FY25, while late FY24 will see the beginning of the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation phase. In parallel the Technical Manuals validation and verification as well as logistic demo and verification will be carried out.
In fact, flexibility is probably the right word to use to sum up the story of the M10 Booker development, which Full Rate Production should start in Q2 FY25 with first production vehicles deliveries in Q1 FY27. First Unit Equipped is expected in Q1 FY26, this receiving 42 LRIP M10s.
The M10 Booker is a 40 tons class tracked vehicle with a 38,100 kg combat mass, is powered by an MTU 8V199 15.9 litres 600 kW (800 hp) diesel engine coupled to an Allison 3040 MX transmission and is fitted with hydropneumatic suspensions. Its maximum speed on road is 70 km/h and its range on road over 550 km. Its dimensions, the M10 is 6.85 metres long, 2.4 metres wide and 3.65 metres high, ensure good mobility even in urban environments, the tracked solution allowing pivot turning.
Designed to be able to provide the Army’s Infantry Brigade Combat Teams a protected, long-range, precision direct-fire capability, the M10 has a crew of four, and is armed with an M35 105/52 mm rifled gun with a 7.62 mm coaxial gun, two clusters of four smoke grenade launchers each being fitted on the two front sides of the turret. The main gun is capable to fire HEAT (shaped charge), HESH (squash head) and APFSDS (kinetic energy) rounds that should still be present in US Army inventory, which provide great flexibility in terms of terminal effect at reduced cost; smoke rounds also exist. According to available information an M10 should carry 42 105 mm rounds, no official data being available. Maximum ergonomic commonality was maintained with the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank turret to reduce training issues.
Army takes delivery of first M10 Booker Combat Vehicle
The U.S. Army christened its newest combat vehicle, the M10 Booker, on April 18, 2024, during a ceremony at Aberdeen Proving Ground.
In late February, the Army took delivery of the first M10 Booker vehicle at Anniston Army Depot. To date, three production M10 Booker vehicles have been delivered to the Army.
Over the next two years, the Army will put the M10 Booker through a battery of testing to ensure it meets the rigorous standards required to provide Soldiers with world class capability. This testing will include firing thousands of rounds of ammunition and driving thousands of miles to understand the reliability and maintainability for the program.
During the next several months, the M10 Booker will be involved in an operational test with the 82nd Airborne Division, all culminating in fielding the first operational company of M10 Booker Combat Vehicles to the 82nd Airborne in the summer of 2025.
