In fall 2021, the competing light tank prototypes moved into the Army’s limited-user test, including live-firing of the systems, which marked the final step before the service selected a winner. Soldiers wrapped up evaluations in early August. GDLS delivered vehicles to the soldier evaluation in January, months ahead of BAE Systems, which struggled with production delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. Dean, during Tuesday’s roundtable, declined to discuss the selection process, citing the sensitivity of the competition. Reports earlier this year indicated the service had already made its choice, taking BAE out of the competition several months ahead of announcing the winner.Īt the time, Bush said the Army had conducted a fair and thorough evaluation of both vehicles, but did not address the reports the Army had already decided on a winner. GDLS and BAE Systems - selected in 2018 to build prototypes - were competing to produce MPF. Ross Coffman, who oversees combat vehicle modernization, said during the same roundtable. Once fielded, the MPF capability will be organized by battalion, but will be employed as companies “generally” at the brigade level, Maj. The bulk of procurement should be complete by 2035, Dean said, adding that the MPF program has remained on schedule and budget. 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. Glenn Dean, the service’s program executive officer for ground combat systems. The Army expects to spend roughly $6 billion on the MPF program through the procurement phase, including what’s already been spent in research and development and prototyping, according to Brig. “But I’m very encouraged by the work 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. “This program is leading the way in that effort, and prototyping into production is not easy. He noted it’s the first major platform going from prototyping to production under Army Futures Command, which relies on new rapid prototyping authorities. “ 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,” Army acquisition chief Doug Bush said in a June 28 media roundtable.

Modern light tank deviant art