Mobile Protected Firepower

Mobile Protected Firepower. The Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) is a light tank or mobile gun system developed for the United States Army to provide infantry brigade combat teams with rapid, protected, direct fire support. The program, managed by Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems, selected a design from General Dynamics Land Systems in 2022. It is intended to counter fortified positions, light armored vehicles, and dismounted infantry, filling a capability gap identified after the retirement of the M551 Sheridan.

Development and procurement

The requirement for a new mobile protected firepower system emerged from lessons learned during the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War, where infantry units often lacked organic, protected direct firepower. The United States Army formally initiated the MPF program in 2015 under the Next Generation Combat Vehicle portfolio. A competitive prototyping phase was conducted between teams led by BAE Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems, with the latter's offering being selected in June 2022 after rigorous testing at Fort Bragg and the Aberdeen Proving Ground. The contract award to General Dynamics Land Systems was valued at over $1.14 billion for an initial low-rate production. The first unit was fielded with the 82nd Airborne Division in 2023, marking a significant milestone for the United States Army's modernization efforts under initiatives like the Army Futures Command.

Design and specifications

The MPF vehicle is based on the chassis of the ASCOD family, which also underpins the Ajax (vehicle). It features a welded aluminum hull with modular composite armor, providing protection against rocket-propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices. The primary armament is an XM35 105mm cannon, a variant of the Royal Ordnance L7, capable of firing a full suite of ammunition including armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot and high-explosive rounds. The fire control system integrates a commander's independent thermal viewer and a gunner's primary sight, similar to systems on the M1 Abrams. Powered by a MTU Friedrichshafen diesel engine coupled with an Allison Transmission X1100 series, it offers high mobility and can be transported by C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.

Operational history

Initial operational testing and evaluation was conducted by soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Liberty beginning in 2023. The MPF is slated to be organic to infantry brigade combat teams, with the first battalion set to achieve full operational capability in the mid-2020s. Its intended operational use includes providing decisive firepower in complex terrain where heavier systems like the M1 Abrams are less deployable, supporting operations in regions like the Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility. The system is expected to play a key role in large-scale combat operations against peer adversaries, as outlined in the United States Department of Defense's National Defense Strategy.

Variants

As of its initial fielding, the MPF exists in a single base variant. However, the platform's design allows for potential future variants, such as command and control or recovery vehicles. The United States Army has indicated the chassis may serve as a technology demonstrator for other Next Generation Combat Vehicle efforts, including potential applications for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle program. The modular nature of its armor and electronics architecture, developed by General Dynamics Land Systems, is intended to facilitate technological insertions and upgrades over its service life.

Operators

* United States: The United States Army is the sole operator. The initial unit equipped was the 82nd Airborne Division. Plans call for equipping multiple infantry brigade combat teams across the force, including units within the 25th Infantry Division and the 10th Mountain Division. Deliveries and fielding are managed by Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems and Army Materiel Command.

Category:Light tanks of the United States Category:Armoured fighting vehicles of the United States Category:General Dynamics military vehicles