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The Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) system is a U.S. Army program to procure a light tank that is capable of providing mobile, protected, direct, offensive fire capability.[1] The program is part of the Next Generation Combat Vehicle program.[2] A previous light tank development for the Army, the M8 Armored Gun System, was canceled in 1996.

The General Dynamics Griffin, winner of the Mobile Protected Firepower competition
The General Dynamics Griffin, winner of the Mobile Protected Firepower competition

The Army downselected General Dynamics Land Systems' (GDLS) Griffin II and BAE Systems' M8 AGS to go forward with evaluation. Both companies delivered prototypes of their vehicles in 2020. BAE's submission was disqualified in 2022. The Army selected the GDLS model later that year. The Army has a requirement for 504 units.


History


An Armored Gun System similar to the BAE model proposed for MPF, rolls off a C-130 circa December 1999
An Armored Gun System similar to the BAE model proposed for MPF, rolls off a C-130 circa December 1999

In November 2017, the Army issued Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase and, in order to maximize competition, planned to award up to two Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) contracts for the EMD phase in early 2019.[1] The expected buy was 504 MPF systems.[3]

SAIC partnered with ST Kinetics and CMI Defence to offer its Next Generation Armored Fighting Vehicle. BAE Systems offered a vehicle based on the M8 Armored Gun System. General Dynamics Land Systems offered a variant of the Griffin II.[4]

In December 2018, the Army downselected BAE and GDLS's proposals to move forward.[4] The Army awarded Rapid Prototyping contracts for MPF to these two companies.[1][5]

GDLS delivered its prototypes (based on the Griffin II) in December 2020. BAE faced production difficulties and supplier issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed delivery until March 2021. The assessment phase began in January 2021 at Fort Bragg, NC, with testing scheduled to run through June 2021. In March 2022, Janes reported that BAE was disqualified from the competition due to "noncompliance issues", leaving GDLS as the only remaining option.[6]

The GDLS Griffin II light tank was selected in June 2022. The initial contract is for 96 vehicles with first delivery by the end of 2023. The first units are expected to be equipped with it by Q4 of FY25.[7]


Competitors


The GDLS light tank incorporates components and systems from the British Ajax tank (itself based on the Austrian–Spanish ASCOD).[8] It was publicly unveiled on April 22, 2020.[9]

BAE Systems' proposal was a lighter updated version of the M8 Armored Gun System, which was canceled in 1996.[8] The Army reportedly disqualified BAE's proposal in March 2022.[6]


Design


Notional Mobile Protected Firepower illustration
Notional Mobile Protected Firepower illustration

The Army stated in its request for proposals in 2015 that it expected MPF to operate in concert with the Army Ground Mobility Vehicle and Light Reconnaissance Vehicle. The Army said the MPF will operate in "austere and unpredictable locations."[3]

The Army opted not to add a requirement for an air-drop capability unlike the M8 Armored Gun System, which had this capability. According to an Army Futures Command official, as of 2021, one of the two competing team's bids was potentially light enough to airdrop due to its "significantly" lighter weight.[10]


See also



References


  1. "The Army's Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) System". Congressional Research Service. 2021-12-14. Retrieved 2022-01-21. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. "Next Generation Combat Vehicles: As Army Prioritizes Rapid Development, More Attention Needed to Provide Insight on Cost Estimates and Systems Engineering Risks". Government Accountability Office. 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  3. McBride, Courtney (27 November 2017). "Army Ground Mobility Vehicle". Inside the Army. No. Courtney McBride. Inside Washington Publishers. JSTOR 26416303. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  4. Tressel, Ashley (24 December 2018). "BAE, General Dynamics move forward in MPF competition". Inside the Army. Vol. 30, no. 51. Inside Washington Publishers. pp. 1, 4–5. JSTOR 26587496. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  5. "BAE Systems awarded development contract for Mobile Protected Firepower". BAE Systems. 2018-12-17. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  6. Roque, Ashley. "US Army eliminates BAE Systems from 'light tank' competition". Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  7. "General Dynamics wins $1.14 billion Mobile Protected Firepower contract". Breaking Defense. 28 June 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  8. Larsen, Caleb (2021-10-02). "The U.S. Army Could Soon Have A New Light Tank". 19fortyfive. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  9. "General Dynamics Land Systems Unveils New Light Tank". MilitaryLeak. 2020-04-25. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  10. Sterenfeld, Ethan (21 June 2021). "Murray: One MPF prototype potentially airdrop-capable". Inside Defense. Inside Washington Publishers. Retrieved 26 February 2022.


Official website


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GDLS MPF — проект легкого танка компании General Dynamics Land Systems[1].


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