The United States Army has started a competition to develop a light battle tank designed to counter the ground armies of Russia and China due to the rising animosity with these superpowers. Army officials want to have it ready by fast-tracking it and arms it mobile infantry with fast-moving armor.
Smaller lightweight tanks are more lithe and mobile than heavy battle tanks, which need specialized transport due to their size.
Light Battle Tanks Development
Plans by the army to have a contract for the chosen defense contractor for lighter tanks are planned for the summer of 2022.
In 2018, two firms were chosen to design and engineer the next-generation Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) vehicle. According to Eurasian Times, BAE Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) are vying to get the contract worth millions of dollars.
Both firms were given $376 million to make their prototypes with several conditions, like having 12 of the MPF light tank ready for trials and tests for approval. The machines need to pass a Soldier Vehicle Assessment (SVA).
In 2021, the competing teams did the SVA with a Fort Bragg Unit called the 82nd Airborne Division in North Carolina. The soldiers' tasks included giving feedback on tactics techniques to systemize fighting with the new combat vehicle.
Competing Light Tank Systems
The General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) have a light chassis with a high-performance power pack, advanced suspension, and a turret that is equipped on the Abram Main Battle Tank (MBT) used by the United States Army will be used in a proposed light battle tank.
BAE Systems' design went with an improved M8 Buford armored gun system with unpublished capabilities and parts. Due to delays because of COVID, they delivered later than General Dynamics.
Just with a few months on until the army intends to select a contender, Janes reported that BAE System had been dropped from the competition earlier this month, allowing only GDLS to participate in the contract.
To this effect, the army is mum on the claims of the military magazine, although a statement from the service's program executive officer for ground combat systems, systems Brig. Gen. Glenn Dean spoke to Defense News.
He added that the US Army would pursue the MPF program for the needs of a mobile system that has offense and defense for US infantry units. Infantrymen need a new system that offers speed, firepower, protection in a light armored vehicle other than an MBT.
US Military Armed Response
Since America became a superpower, it now has to reckon that Moscow and Beijing are ramping up their forces; for the Pentagon, this near-peer competition needs to be resolved in a 2030-2050 time frame.
Regimes other than Russia and China now include Iran and Pyongyang as blooming powers that could keep the USA locked up with a weakened military.
Taking control of the air, sea, land, space, and cyber to keep the US pinned down will signal changes, with America fading in power like Britain.
Scenarios like a westward Russian push and China's anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities in the South China Sea (SCS) are uncrackable. It will be shifting to asymmetrical warfare in the Pacific or urban centers in Europe.
There are tactical advantages if the United States Army finally adopts the plus of having a Light Battle Tank in its arsenal in evolving combat theatres.
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