General Dynamics has announced it will deliver 26 additional M10 Booker infantry fighting vehicles to the US Army in a contract worth $257.6m.
This acquisition is a contract modfication that starts the second phase of low-rate initial production of the fighting vehicle. The modification comes under a larger agreement made between the two parties in June last year, when the army spent $1.14bn for up to 96 active M10 Booker units.
According to the Congressional Research Service, the Army’s Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT) do not have a combat vehicle assigned that is capable of providing mobile, protected and direct fire capability; otherwise known as the army’s Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) programme.
The army’s hopes to procure 504 vehicles under MPF, with 14 MPFs per IBCT. The targeted fielding for the first unit equipped is for Q4 2025. Under current army plans, four MPF battalions are to be fielded by 2030, with the bulk of the planned acquisition scheduled to be completed by 2035.
Designed by General Dynamics Land Systems, the mobile direct-fire combat vehicle melds recently developed designs to dominate ground threats. The Booker has a four-person crew; an enhanced thermal viewer; a large-calibre cannon; a lightweight hull and turret and a modern diesel engine, transmission and suspension system. It has been designed from the start for capability upgrades, based on future operational needs.
“The M10 provides enhanced firepower for the Army’s IBCTs and has been purpose-built to give them decisive lethality, mobility and survivability on current and future battlefields.
“We are proud that our years of innovation, research, development and investment have led to this solution for US Soldiers,” said Gordon Stein, General Dynamics Land Systems Vice President and General Manager for US operations.
Refilling US stocks and capabilities
Since the start of the US President Joe Biden’s administration, the US military assistance to Ukraine has reached a value of $41.2bn; a small part of this package includes 125 Stryker armoured personnel carriers.
At the end of June, General Dynamics was contracted to deliver 300 Stryker DVHA1 fighting vehicles to the US Army for $712.3m – this is the latest and most technologically advanced variant designed in co-operation with the military.
The personnel carrier will provide critical support for the Ukrainian Army’s decisive counter-offensive, providing protection, armaments and tactical mobility in the country’s attempt to repel invading Russian forces in the south and east of Ukraine.
However, the reduced force structure of the army’s infantry fighting vehicle fleet is beginning to take its toll on the original equipment manufacturer, General Dynamics. The company experiences enormous military demands, while it must try to balance cost, timing and capability in this new period of mobilisation.
