Rheinmetall Lynx Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) for the US Army's Bradley replacement. American Rheinmetall Vehicles has set up the Team Lynx, is made up of ARV, Raytheon, L3Harris, Textron and Allison. Its OMFV will use RM’s proven Lynx KF41 as the base for the design
Lynx OMFV features a new LANCE 2.0 Remote Controlled (RC) unmanned turret. The turret is capable of hosting either 30mm XM813 or 50mm XM913 cannons. The rendering shown is armed with 50 x 228 mm XM913 cannon.
The turret has a dual-missile launcher that is capable of hosting current TOW 2, new TOW-Kilo or Next-Generation Close Combat Missile (NGCCM) under development. The range of BGM-71K will be almost 50% greater than the current model, which allows crews to destroy targets at 6.5km.
Lynx OMFV will be equipped with Allison Next-Gen Electrified Transmission (NGET), featuring an electric hybrid architecture, which will offer the benefits of reduced detectability and increased survivability, as well as exportable power provisions for on- and off-board systems.
The main engine as the prime mover is still unknown, but the original Lynx uses a Liebherr D976 inline 6 cylinders diesel engine.
Lynx OMFV will use Raytheon Next Generation Thermal Sights integrating 3rd GEN FLIR offering both greater range and definition in both LWIR and MWIR bands. Behind the commander sight, Rheinmetall Fieldranger remotely controlled weapon station (RCWS) is mounted on the turret roof.
Talking about the Active Protection System (APS), Raytheon offered its Quick Kill 2.0 hard-kill APS in last OMFV competition. New Lynx OMFV is still supposed to be fitted with Quick Kill 2.0 instead of StrikeShield for Hungarian Lynx GyHJ or Iron Fist for Australian LAND 400.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have released a promo video of their M1A1 (Situational Awareness) SA Abrams tank with many close-ups. The following will illustrate the differences in the Ukrainian M1A1 configuration.
From the ‘UKR’ in the turret serial number suffix, we can know that the Ukrainian M1A1 uses a different ‘Ukrainian’ armor package, which is different from the US Army’s Heavy Armor (HA) package.
The Ukrainian version of the M1A1 SA weighs 57.2 metric tons, which is much lighter than the U.S. Army configuration, which reaches 62.2 metric tons (68.6 short tons)
Today, the US Army unveiled the first LRIP batch of M10 Booker Combat Vehicles (BCV) for the first time at the historic naming dedication ceremony for the M10 Booker. It also means that the M10 program is moving into the Production and Deployment (PD) phase now.
The LRIP configuration of the M10 Booker is different from the XM10 prototypes built the year before last, and has been modified in details.
For example, changes to the front box of the turret are visible. (M10 on the left, XM10 on the right)
In the late 1990s, General Dynamics Land Systems came up with an interesting concept named the Abrams Lightweight Variant Tank, which provided an air transportable MBT at significant weight reduction. For simplicity purposes, the concept tank will be referred to below as ALVT.
The primary design goal of ALVT is to reduce the vehicle ship weight to a target of 39 tons (35 tonnes), consistent with the C-17 cargo aircraft lift requirements (two units on a C-17). While at the same time it is desired to maintain the high survivability and lethality.
The Abrams Lightweight Variant Tank weights 51.15 tons (46.4 tonnes) in combat configuration, and 46.24 tons (41.9 tonnes) in curb/dry weight. The vehicle can be further reduced to 39.33 tons (35.6 tonnes) through the modular design and shipped separated systems.
In addition to Cummins Advanced Combat Engine (ACE) used on GD's AbramsX tank, looking back at history, there have been many different dieselization options proposed for the Abrams:
GM/MTU MT883 Ka-500 (manufactured by GM), a 27.36 litre 12 cylinder 1500hp diesel engine, coupled to Allison XT 6775 7-speed automatic transmission, was provided for M1 Block III (M1A1 hull).
Cummins XAV-28 AIPS-D, a 27.56 litre 12 cylinder 1450hp diesel engine, coupled to Allison XT-series seven-speed automatic transmission, was used on M1A1-based Component Advanced Technology Testbed (CATTB).
The @ArmorCollection recently preserve one of twelve prototypes of BAE Systems' Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) vehicle for historic and research purposes. This is a special design and different from the winning GDLS proposal. This thread will introduce it a bit more.
(Thanks Jim Miller, BAE Systems’ vice president of business development, for the great information.)
BAE Systems' Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) formerly known as Expeditionary Light Tank (ELT), is a further derivative of canceled M8 Armored Gun System.
A thread to discuss why the US Army doesn't call MPF a tank
First of all, what is the purpose of Mobile Protected Firepower? The MPF's purpose is to defeat targets that could compromise the effectiveness of the Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
The MPF provides precision, long-range direct fire to support infantry maneuver while retaining freedom of action. The MPF has the range and lethality to reduce bunkers and hardened sites, allowing infantry freedom of maneuver.