Next Generation Combat Vehicle

The Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) is a United States Army program intended to procure a variety of armored vehicles to add new capabilities to Army units and replace existing platforms that are nearing the end of their service life. The program covers the following systems:^[1]

• XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle (MICV), the replacement for the M2 Bradley IFV, formerly known as the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV)
• Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV), the replacement for the M113.
• Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF), fire support vehicle^[2] for Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs), that resulted in the M10 Booker.^[3]
• Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV), three unmanned ground vehicles in light, medium, and heavy configurations.
• Decisive Lethality Platform (DLP), the replacement for the M1 Abrams main battle tank.^[4]

Development

The project began in 2017 after the previous Ground Combat Vehicle program was canceled. The deadline of the projects is expected to be 2035. Multiple groups competed for the bid. The Army gave the contract to a six member consortium - Lockheed Martin, SAIC, GS Engineering, Inc., Moog Inc., Hodges Transportation Inc. and Roush Industries.^[5][6]

Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle

 

Soldiers from 4th Squadron (Dark Horse), 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, complete field testing of the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle at Fort Hood, Texas, circa 2018

Main article: Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle

The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) is the replacement for the M113. In 2014, the Army selected BAE Systems' proposal of a turretless variant of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. As of 2015^[update] the program was scheduled to deliver 2,897 AMPVs in five variants.

Mobile Protected Firepower

 

Mobile Protected Firepower, based on the General Dynamics Griffin

Main article: Mobile Protected Firepower

Mobile Protected Firepower is a fire support vehicle.^[7] It is similar to the M8 Armored Gun System program canceled in 1996, or the M1128 Mobile Gun System being retired in 2022.

In November 2019, the Army released a request for proposals for the Mobile Protected Firepower.^[8]

In December 2018, the Army downselected BAE Systems' and General Dynamics Land Systems' proposals to move forward.^[9]

BAE offered a vehicle based on the M8 Armored Gun System. GDLS offered a variant of the Griffin II.^[9]

On June 28, 2022, the Army selected the GDLS Griffin II light tank as the winner of the MPF program, with an initial contract for 96 vehicles.

In June 2023, the Army designated the Mobile Protected Firepower combat vehicle as the M10 Booker after Private Robert D. Booker, who was killed in the North African campaign during World War II, and Staff Sergeant Stevon Booker, who was a tank commander during the Battle of Baghdad.^[10]

XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle

Main article: XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle

The XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle (MICV), formerly known as the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) is the Army's replacement for the M2 Bradley.

In June 2018, the Army established the Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) program to replace the M2 Bradley. In October 2018, the program was re-designated as the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV). The NGCV program was expanded as a portfolio of next-generation vehicles including tanks and the Bradley-based Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle.^[11]

In March 2019, the Army released a request for proposals for the OMFV.^[12]

The Army said the OMFV will be designed "to engage in close combat and deliver decisive lethality during the execution of combined arms maneuver," and will have a 30mm cannon and a second-generation forward looking infrared system, or FLIR. Testing of the vehicle is expected to begin in 2020.^[12]

A joint venture between Raytheon and Rheinmetall offered a variant of the Lynx KF41. General Dynamics Land Systems offered a variant of the Griffin III. Both Raytheon-Rheinmetall and GDLS were disqualified, leaving no other competitors.^[13] The Army decided to restart the program with less-stringent guidelines.^[14]

In July 2021, the Army awarded contracts to five teams: Point Blank Enterprises, Oshkosh Defense, BAE Systems, General Dynamics Land Systems and American Rheinmetall Vehicles. The total value of the contract was $299.4 million. Teams will develop concept designs during the 15-month long phase.^[15]

In June 2023, the Army downselected American Rheinmetall and GDLS to go forward in the competition. These two teams will now move on to the next phase of the programme and split a $1.6 billion development fund to develop a total of eleven prototypes each, seven being for a contract award, with an option for four more. They will also develop two ballistic hulls, turrets, armor coupons, and digital model twins during this phase of the programme. The Army announced that due to the initial design stage of the OMFV being complete, that they would be redesignating the programme as the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle.^[16]

Robotic Combat Vehicle

As of December 2021^[update], Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) is not a Program of Record, meaning the Army has not committed to an acquisition plan.^[17]

The RCV is being developed in light, medium and heavy variants. The RCV-Light weighs no more than 10 tons, the RCV-Medium weighs between 10 and 20 tons, and the RCV-H weighs more than 20 and less than 30 tons.^[17]

In January 2020, the Army awarded contracts to Qinetiq and Textron. Qinetiq will build four RCV-Ls, and Textron will build four RCV-Ms.^[17]

See also

• Ground Combat Vehicle, a U.S. Army infantry fighting vehicle program canceled in 2014
• Future Combat Systems Manned Ground Vehicles, an American family of tracked vehicles that was canceled in 2009
• Interim Armored Vehicle, a U.S. Army combat vehicle acquisition program that resulted in the Stryker
• Armored Systems Modernization, a wide-ranging U.S. Army combat vehicle acquisition program cancelled after the end of the Cold War
• M1299, U.S. Army replacement for the M109 howitzer

References

1. Feickert, Andrew. "The Army's Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) Program: Background and Issues for Congress" (PDF). Federation of American Scientists. Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
2. "Army approves Milestone C and awards LRIP contract for the Mobile Protected Firepower program". www.army.mil. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
3. https://taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics/army-m10-booker-combat-vehicle-mobile-protected-firepower/
4. Crux (Sep 2023) M1 Abrams Outdated for Modern Warfare? US Shifts Focus to M1E3 Abrams For New Battlefield Challenges Army Science Board studying M1E3
5. Judson, Jen (2017-10-10). "Next-Gen Combat Vehicle prototyping kicks off". Defense News. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
6. "Army looking for Optionally-Manned Fighting Vehicle". www.army.mil. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
7. "Army approves Milestone C and awards LRIP contract for the Mobile Protected Firepower program". www.army.mil. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
8. "The Army's Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) System". Congressional Research Service. 2021-12-14. Retrieved 2022-01-21.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
9. Tressel, Ashley (24 December 2018). "BAE, General Dynamics move forward in MPF competition". Inside the Army. Vol. 30, no. 51. Inside Washington Publishers. pp. 1, 4–5. JSTOR 26587496. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
10. Judson, Jen (10 June 2023). "US Army's new combat vehicle named for soldiers killed in Iraq, WWII". Defense News. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
11. Tressel, Ashley (12 October 2018). "MPF, AMPV now part of NGCV family of vehicles". Inside Defense. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
12. Judson, Jen (2019-04-01). "Army drops request for proposals to build next-gen combat vehicle prototypes". Defense News. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
13. Freedberg Jr., Sydney J. (23 January 2020). "Did Army Ask For 'Unobtainium'?". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
14. Freedberg, Sydney (16 January 2020). "Failing Fast: Army Reboots Bradley Replacement, OMFV". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
15. Judson, Jen (23 July 2021). "US Army chooses competitors to design infantry fighting vehicle replacement". Defense News. DefenseNews. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
16. Roque, Ashley (26 June 2023). "OMFV finalists: Rheinmetall, GDLS again square off for Bradley replacement competition". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
17. Feickert, Andrew (14 December 2021). The Army's Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) Program (Report). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 28 February 2022.