M10 Booker Combat Vehicle, previously referred to as the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) is a highly lethal, mobile direct-fire ground infantry assault vehicle designed and developed by General Dynamics (GD) Land Systems, a business unit of aerospace and defence company General Dynamics.
The US Army received its first M10 Booker vehicle in April 2024.
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Over the course of the next two years, the army will subject the M10 Booker to a series of tests to ensure it meets the demanding standards necessary to deliver world-class capability to soldiers.
The vehicle was purpose-built for the US Army’s Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs) to provide them with decisive lethality, mobility, and survivability, featuring upgraded capabilities on the multidomain battlefield.
M10 Booker combat vehicle development timeline
GD Land Systems won the US Army’s MPF competition to provide enhanced firepower to IBCTs in June 2022. The company received a low-rate-initial-production (LRIP) contract worth $1.14bn for up to 96 MPF combat vehicles.
The contract was awarded after the US Army successfully tested and evaluated 24 prototypes of the MPF vehicle in the middle-tier acquisition rapid-prototyping phase during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In July 2023, the US Army granted GD Land Systems a contract modification worth $258m for the second phase of the LRIP of the M10 Booker combat vehicle.
The contract includes the production of 26 more Booker vehicles.
The targeted fielding for the first unit equipped is expected in 2025, with a total of four MPF battalions planned to be fielded by 2030.
US Army’s MPF battalion plans
The US Army is planning to create an MPF battalion at the division level, from which MPF companies, each comprising 64 armour crew members and 24 armour maintenance soldiers, will be allocated to IBCTs.
The US Army is anticipated to purchase 504 MPF combat vehicles through 2035, allocating 14 MPFs to each IBCT.
M10 Booker design and features
M10 Booker is a new 38-ton (t) armoured light tank based on the M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 main battle tank.
It offers IBCTs the capability to effectively target and destroy fortifications, bunkers, buildings, and light-to-medium armoured vehicles, on current and future battlefields.
The lighter weight of the combat vehicle makes it more transportable and manoeuvrable in different environments.
The vehicle has a range of 300km and a maximum speed of 40mph.
It can operate for 24 hours off the ramp or upon arrival at the drop zone. It is capable of traversing steep hills, valleys, urban terrain, and fording depths such as other organic IBCT vehicles.
The MPF vehicle is manned by a crew of four and is designed for capability upgrades based on future operational requirements.
Armament and self-protection
The vehicle features a large-calibre cannon, a lightweight hull and turret, and an enhanced thermal viewer. The turret architecture is based on the Abrams SEPv3 fire control systems, with a 105mm gun.
The primary armaments for the combat vehicle include a 105mm M35 primary weapon, a 7.62mm Coax weapon and a 0.50 M2 commander’s weapon.
Additionally, a 12.7mm heavy machine gun is mounted on the commander hatch.
Equipped with Safran Optics 1’s PASEO Commander’s Independent Tactical Viewer, the combat vehicle provides a long-range panoramic targeting sight and enhanced situational awareness to the commander and crew members in all combat scenarios.
The MPF vehicle features add-on armour panels and under-vehicle improvised explosive device protection, along with proven ammunition compartmentation for crew safety.
Engine and mobility
The combat vehicle is powered by mtu 8V 199 PowerPacks, providing 600kW. The engine features a high power-to-weight ratio and hydro-pneumatic suspension can provide soldiers with outstanding speed and cross-country manoeuvrability.
The integrated PowerPack includes an engine, transmission, cooling system, air filtration, energy system, preheating equipment, power management, and more.
The vehicle is equipped with a 3040 MX™ cross-drive transmission system, which is designed to support the propulsion, steering, and braking functions of medium-tracked combat vehicles.
The system can accommodate newer control platforms in the future, allowing for advancements in performance over the life cycle of the combat vehicle.
Contractors involved
Allison Transmission, an automatic transmission solutions provider, supplied the transmission system for the vehicle.
It received an approximately $13m contract for phase two of the LRIP contract for the M10 Booker combat vehicle in September 2023.
In October 2023, Rolls-Royce supplied the first mtu 8V 199 PowerPack for the M10 Booker armoured fighting vehicle programme.
The company will deliver up to 96 PowerPacks as part of the LRIP contract for the M10 Booker vehicle.
