OMFV: Army’s Bradley Replacement Faces Hill, DoD Skeptics

OMFV: Army’s Bradley Replacement Faces Hill, DoD Skeptics
OMFV: Army’s Bradley Replacement Faces Hill, DoD Skeptics

Industry is excited about the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle. Congress and the Biden Administration are a harder sell.

OMFV: Army gets BAE, GD Designs For Bradley Replacement

OMFV: Army gets BAE, GD Designs For Bradley Replacement
OMFV: Army gets BAE, GD Designs For Bradley Replacement

BAE’s press release features a shadowy silhouette of a previously unseen vehicle. Could this be BAE’s proposal for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle?

Faster, Tougher, Smarter: Army’s Future Armored Force EXCLUSIVE

Faster, Tougher, Smarter: Army’s Future Armored Force EXCLUSIVE
Faster, Tougher, Smarter: Army’s Future Armored Force EXCLUSIVE

Adding robot scouts and replacing vintage vehicles – the M113, the M2 Bradley, and potentially even the M1 Abrams – will make heavy brigades much more mobile, lethal, and aware of threats, Maj. Gen. Richard Ross Coffman says.

Army Outlines Ambitious Schedule For Robots, Armor

Army Outlines Ambitious Schedule For Robots, Armor
Army Outlines Ambitious Schedule For Robots, Armor

The Army is testing the MPF light tank; evaluating concepts for the OMFV troop carrier; preparing for major tests of high-tech Robotic Combat Vehicles and workhorse Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles in 2022; and will test a full battalion of 18 ERCA howitzers in 2023.

Army Rushes To Deploy Anti-Jam GPS Alternative For Armored Force

Army Rushes To Deploy Anti-Jam GPS Alternative For Armored Force
Army Rushes To Deploy Anti-Jam GPS Alternative For Armored Force

Rather than wait for a much-delayed Air Force system, the Army’s plan is to deploy Generation 1 of its new receiver this year, starting with the 2nd Calvary Regiment, the 1st Armored Division, and the 1st Infantry Division.

Army Tests New Active Protection For Abrams, Bradley, AMPV & Stryker

Army Tests New Active Protection For Abrams, Bradley, AMPV & Stryker
Army Tests New Active Protection For Abrams, Bradley, AMPV & Stryker

The Army’s already installed off-the-shelf Israeli anti-missile systems on its M1 Abrams and tried similar tech on Bradley and Stryker. But what it really wants is a standardized yet customizable Modular Active Protection System (MAPS) it can install on a wide range of vehicles.

Army Tries (Again) To Protect Stryker: Rafael or Rheinmetall?

Army Tries (Again) To Protect Stryker: Rafael or Rheinmetall?
Army Tries (Again) To Protect Stryker: Rafael or Rheinmetall?

Miniaturized missile defenses work well on heavy tanks, but efforts to fit such Active Protection Systems on light vehicles like Stryker have failed – so far. Now the Army will test two lightweight options: Rafael’s Trophy VPS and Rheinmetall’s ADS.

Lynx Strikes Back: How Rheinmetall Could Win Army OMFV (ANALYSIS)

Lynx Strikes Back: How Rheinmetall Could Win Army OMFV (ANALYSIS)
Lynx Strikes Back: How Rheinmetall Could Win Army OMFV (ANALYSIS)

The Army’s new priorities — emphasizing heavy armor and robotics — and Rheinmetall’s successes overseas combine to give the KF41 Lynx a fighting chance to be the new Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle.

OMFV: Rheinmetall, Textron & Raytheon Offer Lynx For Bradley Replacement – Again

OMFV: Rheinmetall, Textron & Raytheon Offer Lynx For Bradley Replacement – Again
OMFV: Rheinmetall, Textron & Raytheon Offer Lynx For Bradley Replacement – Again

These companies teamed up for the Army’s first, stillborn attempt to build a new armored troop carrier in 2019. This time they’re offering “a new variant.”

OMFV: Army Team Won’t Compete For Bradley Replacement

OMFV: Army Team Won’t Compete For Bradley Replacement
OMFV: Army Team Won’t Compete For Bradley Replacement

Industry and Congress were deeply skeptical of the Army’s suggestion to enter a government design team in the OMFV competition. Now the Army has backed off.

BAE Delivers 1st Production AMPV To Army Despite Cuts & Delays

BAE Delivers 1st Production AMPV To Army Despite Cuts & Delays
BAE Delivers 1st Production AMPV To Army Despite Cuts & Delays

COVID-19 and quality control problems at BAE’s York, Penn. plant had slowed the replacement of the Vietnam-vintage M113 armored vehicle.

GAO Questions Army’s $62B Cost Estimates For Combat Vehicles

GAO Questions Army’s $62B Cost Estimates For Combat Vehicles
GAO Questions Army’s $62B Cost Estimates For Combat Vehicles

The Army estimated the OMFV troop carrier would cost $46 billion and the MPF light tank would cost $16 billion. The GAO has doubts.

Two Men & A Bot: Can AI Help Command A Tank?

Two Men & A Bot: Can AI Help Command A Tank?
Two Men & A Bot: Can AI Help Command A Tank?

Instead of a traditional three-man crew, Brig. Gen. Coffman told Breaking Defense, “you have two humans with a virtual crew member, [sharing] the functions of gunning, driving, and commanding.”

OMFV: Can Army Exorcise The Ghost Of FCS?

OMFV: Can Army Exorcise The Ghost Of FCS?
OMFV: Can Army Exorcise The Ghost Of FCS?

The ongoing reboot of the Bradley replacement program reminds many in Congress and industry of the disastrous Future Combat Systems. The Army has changed a lot since FCS – but has it changed enough?