The U.S. Army is currently considering two prototypes for the replacement of the M2/M3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
American Rheinmetall and General Dynamics Land Systems are fiercely contesting for the prize of being the company that will replace the venerable M2/M3 Bradley. The two companies provided the Army with their prototypes, and now the competition is on.
American Rheinmetall is contesting with the XM30 Lynx, while General Dynamics Land Systems is entering the competition with the Wolf XM30.
This is a colossal contract that can end up worth $45 billion as the Army is operating approximately 4,500 M2/M3 Bradleys of all types.
“Delivering our first prototype to the Army is an important step as the XM30 Combat Vehicle program enters a more visible phase,” Matt Warnick, CEO of American Rheinmetall, said in a company press release. “Team Lynx now has the opportunity to show the Army that we can deliver on the promise of a modern replacement for the Bradley.”
According to the Army, the XM30 Combat Vehicle will be a next-generation, tracked, armored fighting vehicle designed to provide support to mechanized infantry and armor formations. It will have cutting-edge troop protection, including counter-drone systems, to be able to survive on the modern battlefield.
“XM30 Wolf in the hands of the US Army! Last Friday, GDLS XM30 Wolf was delivered to the US Army at Aberdeen Proving Grounds,” Geoffrey Norman, Director U.S. Strategy & Growth at General Dynamics Land Systems, wrote on a LinkedIn post.
To be sure, a complex project such as this involves more than one company. For example, the XM30 Lynx by American Rheinmetall includes systems by Textron Systems, Raytheon, L3Harris Technologies, Allison Transmission, and Anduril Industries, and has an expansive network of domestic suppliers.
On the other hand, the Wolf XM30 includes systems from Northrop Grumann, GDIT, Leonardo, STC, and several other companies.
The 1st Cavalry Division will be the first to receive new prototypes of the XM30; it will also be the first unit to receive the M1E3 Abrams, the next generation of the Army’s main battle tank. The goal is to have sufficient prototypes of both the XM30 and M1E3 by the end of the year to conduct meaningful testing. Testing will take place in Fort Hood, TX.
American Rheinmetall delivered the first of eight Lynx XM30 prototypes to the Army, beginning developmental and performance testing.
Supporting mechanized infantry
Ever since the German Army took the world by surprise through its Blitzkrieg in the opening months of the World War II, infantry fighting vehicles have been an integral part of mechanized warfare.
Main battle tanks alone cannot survive without infantry support. Similarly, infantry cannot survive alone without armor support. So, to match the tank’s speed of advance, militaries developed the infantry fighting vehicle and armored personnel carrier. These combat vehicles move mechanized infantry close to the target and can provide accurate covering fire.
In the war in Ukraine, infantry fighting vehicles have been providing key support to mechanized infantry on both sides.
There are countless videos showing Ukrainian assaults against Russian trench systems or other fortified positions with infantry fighting vehicles moving the infantry near the target and using their autocannons, machine guns, and grenade launchers to cover the friendly troops. Ukrainian M2/M3 Bradleys have even taken out Russian T-90 main battle tanks.
For the U.S. Army, replacing the M2/M3 Bradley with a better weapon system is one of the most important programs of the next few years.
Feature Image: A 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle leads a convoy at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California, August 13, 2022. Convoys travel in one of several different formations depending on the environment and mission. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Timothy Brokhoff, 19th Public Affairs Detachment)
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