The United States Army has been working on developing a new generation of light tanks and wheeled vehicles, known as the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program. In 2018, General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) and BAE Systems were selected to build prototypes for this program.

According to Ross Coffman, who oversees combat vehicle modernization, the MPF capability will be organized by battalion but employed as companies at the brigade level once it is fielded. The Army plans to buy 504 vehicles and they are projected to be in the inventory for at least 30 years.

The total life cycle cost of the program, including sustainment, military construction, and personnel, is estimated at around $17 billion. Of this, roughly $6 billion will be spent on the MPF program through the procurement phase, which includes research and development and prototyping costs.

Despite the challenges involved in transitioning from prototyping to production, Glenn Dean, the service's program executive officer for ground combat systems, is optimistic about the progress made so far. 'There's a lot more work to do as we go into low-rate production and then we have operational testing,' he said. 'But I'm very encouraged by the work so far.'

The MPF program is also notable because it is one of the first major platforms to transition from prototyping to production under Army Futures Command, which relies on new rapid prototyping authorities.

According to Army acquisition chief Doug Bush, the MPF program demonstrates the Army's commitment to doing acquisition rapidly and using all the new approaches and new authorities available to do modernization in a new way. 'MPF shows the Army is committed to doing acquisition rapidly and using all the new approaches and new authorities we have to do modernization in a new way,' he said.

Overall, the MPF program represents an important step forward for the United States Army in terms of developing modern light tanks and wheeled vehicles that can support a variety of missions. With its emphasis on rapid prototyping and production, the program is also helping to pave the way for future modernization efforts.

Modern light tanks and wheeled vehicles