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Light Solution for High Mobility in Battlefield

Dec 27, 2018

Photo illustration US Army — U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, armored vehicles leave the city of Samarra, Salah Ad Din Province, Iraq, on Oct. 1, 2004, after conducting the first assault during Operation Baton Rouge, which is a localized anti-Iraqi insurgent operation being conducted in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo) (Released)

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Light infantry units are intended to travel fast on missions where heavier units would have trouble getting to the front. The problem is that a US Army Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) as currently armed lacks in both firepower and armor, with the average unit having to rely on Humvees towing light artillery pieces.

To remedy this, the MPF program (Mobile Protected Firepower) has awarded contracts to BAE Systems Land & Armaments and General Dynamics Land Systems to create prototype medium armor vehicles that are compatible with IBCTs.

The US Army says that the winning vehicle will protect its crew; provide direct, offensive fire to neutralize dug-in enemy and bunkers; defeat heavy machine guns and armored vehicles; and maintain defensive operations against an attacking force.

The two companies will each build for the US Army 12 prototype medium-armor vehicles. Part of the MPF program, the two US$376-million contracts aim at developing an agile, multi-terrain platform, according to newatlas.com.

According to BAE, its design is based on 30 years of work on a rapidly deployable, light combat vehicle and will take its cues from the US Army’s M8 Armored Gun.

The new vehicle will have scaled armor and survivability subsystems, situational awareness systems, a low-profile silhouette, and a M35 105mm cannon. The latter will incorporate an auto-loading ammunition system that can operate at a fire rate of 12 rounds per minute. In addition, it will have a “roll-out” power pack to make it easier to work on the engine and gearbox.

As the prototyping phase continues, the Army will evaluate each company’s vehicle before deciding which one will enter production.

Don Kotchman, Vice President of General Dynamics Land Systems US Market said, “We are excited about this opportunity to provide the US Army a large-caliber, highly mobile combat vehicle to support the infantry brigade combat teams. We are especially proud of this new opportunity to serve in the Infantry Brigade Combat Team formation.”