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34-549: The Mobile Protected Firepower ( MPF ) is a U.S. Army program to procure a combat vehicle that is capable of providing mobile, protected, direct fire offensive capability. The projected vehicle has been designated the M10 Booker , and will according to description essentially serve the role of an assault gun . The program is part of the Next Generation Combat Vehicle program. The MPF vehicle has been called

68-564: A light tank by some sources, which is incorrect according to some Army officials. It will weigh about 42 short tons (38 t). MPF is similar in purpose to the M8 Armored Gun System light tank, the intended replacement for the M551 Sheridan , which the Army canceled due to budget considerations in 1996. The last user of M551 Sheridans , the 3/ 73rd Armor of the 82nd Airborne Division ,

102-412: A company's needs. Similar requests include a request for quotation (RFQ) and a request for information (RFI), where a customer needs more information from vendors before submitting an RFP. An RFI is typically followed by an RFP or RFQ. When an RFP is made after negotiations with prospective contractors, the submitted tender is known as a BAFO (best and final offer). A request for proposal requires

136-413: A comparable halon unit. Germany uses this system as a replacement for its halon system. Some systems, such as Germany's previous extinguisher, have a second shot of suppressant to mitigate re-ignition or the effects of a second hit. Though not as instantaneous, portable crew-operable extinguishers are also used inside and outside the vehicle. Typically, portable extinguishers use a CO 2 agent instead of

170-510: A dedicated passenger bay, able to carry up to a dozen or more passengers. Hygiene upkeep is difficult when operating a combat vehicle. Tracked combat vehicles are suited for heavy combat and rough terrain. Wheeled combat vehicles offer improved logistical mobility and optimized speeds on smooth terrain. Silent watch is becoming an increasingly important combat vehicle application. It is a role that requires that all mission requirements be met while keeping acoustic and infrared signature levels to

204-747: A distance. They may consist of weapons such as machine guns , automatic grenade launchers , or simply the presence of firing ports or armored turrets for the crew or infantry to fire their own issued weaponry from. Some combat vehicles may also carry anti-armor or anti-vehicle weaponry such as autocannons or anti-tank guided missiles . High-caliber or dedicated combat vehicles such as tanks or self-propelled weaponry may carry tank guns , multiple rocket launchers , artillery , or anti-aircraft weapons . Most combat vehicles are not optimized for destroying non-traditional targets such as car bombs , though many may be designed to be resistant to explosives. Request for proposal A request for proposal ( RFP )

238-538: A final selection decision is based. Federal government requests for final proposal revisions must advise offerors that the final proposal revisions shall be in writing and that the Government intends to make award without obtaining further revisions. The term "request for proposals" is sometimes used in relation to government procurement in the United Kingdom , for example a request for proposals to raise and manage

272-459: A minimum. For this reason, silent watch often requires the vehicle to operate without use of the main engine and sometimes even auxiliary engines. Many modern combat vehicles often have electronic equipment that cannot be supported solely with auxiliary batteries alone. Auxiliary fuel cells are a potential solution for covert operations. Force trackers are not as prevalent as in air forces, but are still essential components of combat vehicles. In

306-537: A requirement to procure additional 105 mm ammunition. In 2023, MPF product manager LTC Peter George said that although the Ajax was the starting point for the GDLS MPF, the current chassis shares little in common with the Ajax and "it's difficult to see the similarities." BAE XM1302 MPF pilot vehicle 2 at the U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection , Fort Moore . Combat vehicle The classification of "combat vehicle"

340-808: A variant of the AGS to meet the Mobile Gun System requirement; however the Army selected the General Dynamics Land Systems 8×8 LAV III derivative. The Army stated in its request for proposals in 2015 that it expected the 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". At an industry day in August 2016, an Army spokesperson said

374-663: A vehicle based on the M8 Armored Gun System . General Dynamics Land Systems offered a variant of the Griffin II . The GDLS vehicle incorporates components and systems from the British Ajax IFV (itself based on the Austrian–Spanish ASCOD ). It was publicly unveiled on 22 April 2020. BAE Systems' proposal was a lighter updated version of the M8 Armored Gun System, which was canceled in 1996. In December 2018,

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408-489: A weaponized vehicle in a combat environment are great. Use of titanium armor on combat vehicles is increasing. The use of titanium can lighten the vehicle's weight. Appliqué armor can be quickly applied to vehicles and has been utilized on a number of combat vehicles, such as the M8 armored gun system . Contemporary combat vehicles may incorporate a fire-suppression system to mitigate damage from fire. Systems can be employed in

442-460: Is a form of reverse auction that solicits a business proposal by an organisation interested in the procurement of a service or product from potential suppliers. It is usually part of a complex sales process, and made through a bidding process. Unlike invitations to tender , which award contracts based upon the price and quality of the tender, RFPs allow suppliers more flexibility in proposing an original service or product in alignment with

476-420: Is a very broad category, and may include armored cars , armored personnel carriers , infantry fighting vehicles , infantry mobility vehicles , MRAPs , and tanks . Improvised fighting vehicles such as technicals can also count as combat vehicles. Most modern combat vehicles have vehicle armor , offensive or defensive weaponry , and sufficient space to carry passengers , equipment , or materiel ; if

510-401: Is expected to cost about $ 12.8 million. Full-rate production MPF systems are expected to cost less than LRIP units. The Army's MPF acquisition objective is for 504 vehicles, with Army officials noting that this number could vary slightly. Each Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) will be allocated 14 MPFs. The MPFs will form a divisional level battalion, from which companies will be detailed to

544-413: Is for 96 Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) vehicles, with first delivery by the end of 2023. As of January 2023, delivery of the first LRIP MPF system is expected in 19 months, and Initial Operational Testing and Evaluation (IOT & E) is planned for the end of FY2024. The First Unit Equipped (FUE) is scheduled for the fourth quarter of FY2025, consisting of a battalion of 42 MPFs. Each LRIP MPF system

578-519: The Bronze and Iron ages. However, weaponry was not installed on the vehicle, relying on the soldier's carried weapon for armament, and armor was effectively limited to a shield and the thin structure of the chariot, if those were even available or sufficient. With the invention of the automobile , combat vehicles took varying forms, ranging from the lightly armored passenger cars of the World War I era to

612-549: The AGS in 1996, citing an unfavorable outyear funding environment. The 3/73rd Armor was inactivated over the following two years. The last Sheridans in service were vismod Sheridans used for opposing force training. These too were retired in 2004. In 1999, Army Chief of Staff Eric Shinseki laid out his vision for a lighter, more transportable force. The Army began the Interim Armored Vehicle (IAV) program to implement Shinseki's concept. United Defense LP entered

646-618: The Army issued a 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. The expected buy was 504 MPF systems. Science Applications International Corporation partnered with ST Kinetics and CMI Defence . The design paired CMI's Cockerill 305 turret to an ST Kinetics Next Generation Armored Fighting Vehicle hull. BAE Systems offered

680-476: The Army narrowed their choices to BAE and GDLS's proposals to move forward. The Army awarded rapid prototyping contracts for MPF not to exceed $ 376 million to these two companies. Both companies faced production difficulties and supplier issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic . The Army had required that the two companies submit all of their 12 prototypes by August 2020. GDLS delivered all of its prototypes (based on

714-573: The Army type classified the vehicle as the M10 Booker. The Army expects to purchase 504 units. The Army recognized the poor performance of the M551 Sheridan light tank in Vietnam and began the process of retiring the vehicle in 1977. A small number were retained in active service by the 82nd Airborne Division and the National Guard . The Army began a series of projects in the 1980s to either improve

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748-690: The Griffin II) by December 2020. BAE's final prototypes were delivered in February 2021. The assessment phase began in January 2021 at Fort Bragg , North Carolina, with testing scheduled to run through June 2021. In March 2022, BAE was reportedly disqualified from the competition due to "noncompliance issues", leaving GDLS as the only remaining option. The Army selected the GDLS Griffin II in June 2022. The initial contract

782-641: The IBCTs. The targeted fielding for the first unit equipped is FY2025. Under current Army plans, four MPF battalions are to be fielded by 2030, with the bulk of the planned acquisition scheduled to be completed by 2035. In June 2023, the Army designated the Mobile Protected Firepower combat vehicle as the M10 Booker after Private Robert D. Booker , who was killed in the North African campaign during World War II , and Staff Sergeant Stevon Booker, who

816-462: The MPF was one of the Army's top priorities. The Army desired a commercial off-the-shelf vehicle weighing no more than 32 tons. 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. In November 2017,

850-494: The Sheridan or replace it. Some of its efforts around this time could be described as hopelessly intermingled. After a series of false starts, in June 1992 the Army selected FMC 's XM8 Armored Gun System (AGS) to go into low-rate initial production. The AGS was expected to replace the Sheridan in the 3/ 73rd Armor of the 82nd Airborne Division and TOW missile-armed Humvees in the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment . The Army canceled

884-851: The bidder to produce an original business proposal based on the buyer's needs. Depending on the RFP document's specification, a bidder may be required to decide upon project expectations, timetable, product design, and vendors. Other requested information may include basic corporate information and history, technical capability, product information. In United States government procurement , Federal Acquisition Regulation 15.203 covers requests for proposals, stating Requests for proposals (RFPs) are used in negotiated acquisitions to communicate Government requirements to prospective contractors and to solicit proposals. The FAR allows for evaluation of proposals, further discussions with bidders and invitation for submission of written final proposal revisions (FPRs), upon which

918-564: The engine and crew compartments and portable systems may be mounted inside and outside the vehicle as well. Automatic fire suppression systems activate instantaneously upon the detection of fire and have been shown to significantly improve crew survivability. Halon fire suppression systems quickly inundate an affected fire breach with a flood of halon to extinguish leaking fuel. Halon remains necessary for crew compartment fire suppression due to space and weight constraints, and toxicity concerns. Nitrogen systems take up about twice as much space as

952-435: The first two both apply, the vehicle may be considered an armored fighting vehicle . For much of history, most soldiers not fighting on foot (e.g. cavalry ) used military animals such as horses or elephants , as land vehicles for the most part did not exist. One of the earliest forms of "combat vehicles" was the chariot . In ancient warfare , chariots were used as "battle taxis" and mobile archery platforms during

986-453: The halon agents used in the past. CO 2 can become lethal to vehicle occupants if it accumulates into a deadly concentration. The U.S. Army has adopted a replacement formula consisting of 50% water , 50% potassium acetate . Alternatives such as powder formulas also exist. Combat vehicles require at least one crew member, though typically at least two (one driver and one gunner). Some vehicles, such as armored personnel carriers, also contain

1020-579: The mid-1990s, U.S. weapon developers envisioned a sophisticated communication network where positions of enemy and friendly forces could be relayed to command vehicles and other friendly vehicles. Friendly vehicles could transmit enemy positions to friendly combat vehicles in combat range for efficient annihilation of the enemy. Logistics support could also monitor front-line combat vehicle fuel and ammunition statuses and move in to resupply depleted vehicles. Weapons mounted on combat vehicles are primarily designed for engaging infantry or other combat vehicles at

1054-473: The required crew size with improvements in robotics . Enhancements to automation can help achieve operational effectiveness with a smaller, more economical, combat vehicle force. The automation of combat vehicles has proved to be difficult due to the time latency between the operator controlling the vehicle and the signal being received. Unlike air forces, ground forces must navigate the terrain and plan around obstacles. The rapid tactical implications of operating

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1088-470: The widely fielded Willys MB of World War II , along with a wide variety of other combat vehicles such as half-tracks and multiple classifications of tanks . Development of combat vehicles continued into the Cold War as military tactics and technology evolved, diversifying the role of vehicles in war and making them an essential aspect of modern warfare . The automation of human tasks endeavors to reduce

1122-442: Was a tank commander during the invasion of Baghdad . The M10 Booker is an armored vehicle that is intended to support our Infantry Brigade Combat Teams by suppressing and destroying fortifications, gun systems and trench routes, and then secondarily providing protection against enemy armored vehicles. As of 2023, there is a limited quantity of serviceable 105 mm ammunition for MPF training and operational use. As such, there could be

1156-504: Was subsequently inactivated starting in 1996. In 2018 the Army selected bids from General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) and BAE Systems —for further evaluation for the MPF requirement. Prototypes of GDLS's Griffin II and BAE's M8 AGS were delivered to the Army beginning in 2020. BAE's submission was disqualified in 2022. The Army selected the GDLS model for initial production later that year. In 2023,

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