The u.s army's Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program addresses a
capabilities gap for the army's infantry
brigade combat teams. IBCTs do not have a combat vehicle
assigned that is capable of providing
mobile protected direct, offensive fire
capability against hardened positions, dismounted personnel, and light armored
vehicles an article published by the
army explains.
Notably the mobile protected firepower
vehicle essentially a light tank won't
go to the army's heavy armor brigades
which already have an effective armor
platform and organic armor support
infrastructure.
Instead, the MPF will equip light
infantry and airborne units within the
army that do not have a tracked armored
vehicle.
Ideally, the mpf vehicle will bridge the
gap between adequate armor protection
and weight to be airmobile. this will be far from easy.
The last airborne capable tracked
armored vehicle in army service was the
problematic m5 51 Sheridan. other light tanks like the m41 walker
bulldog proved too heavy for air
mobility.
The vehicle General Dynamics built for MPF has the advantage of leveraging the GD's extensive decades-long tank
building experience, GD also makes the m1
abrams main battle tank. In addition, electronics and fire
controls are expected to be similar to
the larger m1 simplifying training.
Their bit incorporates some components
from the company's ajax vehicle supplied
to the British army, that vehicle has been particularly
problematic several British tankers
required medical assistance after
excessive vibration and noise caused
hearing loss and minor injuries. it is unclear if this will also be an
issue for the GD's MPF.
Though gd's prototype sports a 105
millimeters main gun, most nato main
battle tanks guns are 120 millimeters in
diameter, the vehicle is far from small
and earlier prototype weights have
ranged from under 30 to 50 tons, raising
questions about the vehicle's mobility
via air transport and on land under its
own power.
On the other hand, BAE's vehicle is
considerably smaller and lighter a
selling point the company has
highlighted. In addition, unlike many armored vehicles, their prototypes engine is easily
removable for in-the-field repairs or
maintenance.
BAE leverages an older design in their
vehicle portfolio, the M8 armored gun
system a failed bid to replace the
Sheridan as the army's airmobile light
tank.
The modernized design improves
underbelly blast protection and updated
electronics in the engine but the vehicle's
relatively modest engine output could be
a limiting factor despite its low base
weight.
Both vehicles have strengths and
weaknesses, neither has a clear advantage
over the other. However following soldier assessments, one of the two should come out on top.
