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01 May 25. The USMC’s unmanned ground vehicle will look a lot like the Army’s. It’s official: After several years of testing and experiments, the Marine Corps is sure it wants an unmanned ground vehicle.
Speaking at the Modern Day Marine conference in Washington on Wednesday, Lt. Col. Scott Humr, the deputy for the Marines’ Intelligent Robotics and Autonomous Systems program, said the Corps was now developing a requirements document for its multi-purpose UGV, though the timing of its publication was still to be determined.
“We see this as an important piece of how we envision robots working with robots,” Humr said.
In 2023, Marines from the 3rd Littoral Logistics Battalion in Hawaii teamed up with the Army and the South Korean government to try out a Korean UGV prototype, the Hanwha Arion-SMET, in a two-week foreign comparative test, an event officials said at the time marked “a critical juncture in the Corps’ exploration of advances unmanned technologies.”
The test, which emphasized the UGV’s artificial intelligence and machine learning capacity, also underscored the vehicle’s value in contested environments, where rugged unmanned logistics platforms can decrease risk to warfighters and better ensure sustainment of combat operations.
Separately, manufacturer Rheinmetall has provided the Marine Corps with autonomous UGVs equipped with remotely controlled weapons station turrets for testing purposes since 2023.
The Marine Corps has shown interest in a robotic mule for transporting gear and weapons for over a decade, with early prototypes from the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab resembling an actual four-legged animal. But Humr said the solution the Corps was now falling in on would be close to the one already defined by the Army. The Army last year awarded contracts for Small Multipurpose Equipment Transports to American Rheinmetall Vehicles and HDT Expeditionary Systems, with officials saying they planned to award a production contract for more than 2,000 of the vehicles to one of the companies in fiscal 2027.
“A lot of the work they’ve done is like 90% of what we need. And so we’re not going to reinvent the wheel, as it were,” Humr told Marine Corps Times. “Now we just need to move out on developing the annexes, do the materiel change requests, and just start getting things out there.”
Humr emphasized the family-of-systems approach the Marine Corps is now using to shape its unmanned platform acquisition strategy.
“We love to see [unmanned aerial vehicles interfacing with ground platforms and taking loads … containers, whatever, and leaving the Marine out of the loop, as it were, and delivering those systems autonomously,” he said.
With counter-unmanned aerial systems protections bolted on and perimeter protection, he said, the vehicles should be able to operate independently near a combat operations center or further afield.
“I think those are going to be very critical for logistics, for sensing, for communications, [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] etc., logistics,” Humr said. “We need to develop the requirement a little bit more and ensure that we get it out there quickly, and make sure we have the funding to support that as well. I think we’ll get that.” (Source: Defense News)
25 Apr 25. AI-Powered Situational Awareness Platform Launched for Armored Vehicles. Maris-Tech Ltd. has introduced Diamond Ultra, a new integrated AI system designed to improve threat detection and situational awareness in armored fighting vehicles (AFVs). Maris-Tech Ltd. is launching Diamond Ultra, a fully integrated hardware-software system designed to enhance situational awareness and airborne threat protection for armored fighting vehicles (AFVs) and critical defense applications.
The full-system solution combines a ruggedized processing box with an AI-powered analytics card in one cohesive platform. This integration reportedly eliminates compatibility challenges found in separate systems while simplifying deployment and enhancing operational performance in harsh environments.
Diamond Ultra
The Diamond Ultra platform provides comprehensive 360° 3D situational awareness, addressing critical challenges such as blind spots, slow threat detection, and integration complexities in modern combat environments.
The system integrates up to 11 camera inputs (IP, analog, and HD/SDI) and leverages dual AI accelerators (~60 TOPS) for high-speed processing of multiple video streams simultaneously. This ensures instant threat identification and actionable intelligence for defense teams operating in mission-critical scenarios.
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Designed for rapid installation and low maintenance, the Diamond Ultra system supports LTE/5G connectivity, enabling real-time video transmission and remote monitoring from command centers or other off-site locations. This capability enhances operational flexibility by allowing defense teams to maintain oversight even in dynamic or geographically dispersed combat scenarios.
Additionally, its continuous recording functionality supports post-event debriefing and training while also enabling the refinement of AI models through raw video data analysis. This ensures long-term operational improvement and adaptability to evolving threats.
Israel Bar, CEO & Founder of Maris-Tech Ltd., stated, “Diamond Ultra is a transformative milestone for Maris-Tech, an integrated solution that unites advanced AI-powered software with ruggedized hardware into one seamless platform.
“This innovation eliminates the delays and complexities often caused by separate systems, enabling faster deployment and ensuring consistent performance in mission-critical environments. By integrating situational awareness and threat detection into a single system, we enhance force safety while providing defense teams with a reliable, future-ready solution that adapts effortlessly to evolving operational demands.” (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)
29 Apr 25. Full Ground Autonomy Integrated into Army SMET Vehicle for Uncrewed Breaching. Overland AI has successfully demonstrated its ground autonomy technology at the U.S. Army’s innovation exercise, Project Convergence Capstone 5 (PC-C5).
Working alongside the Sandhills Project and the 20th Engineer Brigade of the XVIII Airborne Corps, Overland AI showcased autonomous breaching capabilities using a ground vehicle integrated with aerial payloads.
Under the direction of the Sandhills Project, Overland AI adapted General Dynamics Land Systems’ Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET) vehicle by integrating its full autonomy suite—comprising the OverDrive software stack, SPARK hardware infrastructure, and OverWatch tactical interface. Originally operated via tethered remote control, the SMET was upgraded to conduct fully autonomous operations in complex, contested environments.
As part of the demonstration, Soldiers from the 27th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade received hands-on training on the autonomous system. Throughout PC-C5, they developed the ability to independently operate, troubleshoot, and maintain the upgraded platform, ultimately conducting complete breaching missions without direct Overland AI oversight.
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Byron Boots, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Overland AI, said, “Soldiers independently and successfully operated our ground autonomy for two consecutive weeks during Project Convergence Capstone 5. Breaching exercises continue to demonstrate the maturity of our capability and the tactical benefit of removing humans from some of the most dangerous missions.”
The operational scenario featured two key payload integrations:
• A trailer equipped with a mine-clearing UAS for clearing safe lanes.
• A Stratin Engineering-developed drone launcher mounted directly to the SMET, capable of deploying small, expendable drones for distributed operations.
These capabilities directly supported the Sandhills Project’s objective of overcoming complex obstacles—such as minefields, wire entanglements, and anti-vehicle ditches—while enabling wider operational reach during breach maneuvers. Following the exercise, the 20th Engineer Brigade retained the autonomous SMET platform for ongoing experimentation, with Overland AI providing field support services and software licensing under contract.
Overland AI’s deployment team at PC-C5 included specialists across autonomy software development, hardware integration, tactical field operations, and program management. Their efforts align with the broader goals of Project Convergence, which focuses on advancing multi-domain operations in support of future engagements in theaters such as INDOPACOM.
Building on its momentum, Overland AI continues to push the boundaries of autonomous ground systems for defense applications. The company is also executing an $18.6m contract with the U.S. Army and Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to deliver next-generation autonomy software for the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program. (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)
25 Apr 25. Sweden, Lithuania, Norway, and Finland Explore Joint CV90 Acquisition. Two CV90 vehicles from the Swedish Army, are seen in a snowy, forested environment.
At a joint press conference on Tuesday, 23 April 2025, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas announced that Sweden, Lithuania, Norway, and Finland are pursuing the joint acquisition of CV90 combat vehicles.
The size and composition of the acquisition have not yet been determined; however, it was suggested that it could involve hundreds of vehicles. Mr. Kristersson explained, “The Government sees major benefits in a coordinated acquisition of CV90, as this will speed up deliveries, reduce costs, and benefit our defence industry ties.” The four countries are currently drafting a formal statement of intent reflecting the way forward and the scope of the agreed program.
He continued, “We haven’t made all the decisions yet, but the faster we make the decisions, the faster they could be delivered to national armed forces.” He added that “Sweden looks forward to taking this concrete step forward in strengthening our joint security.” This purchasing partnership will be one of the largest multi-nation ground combat system acquisitions in recent times. It will provide significant economic and delivery benefits, offering production stability and potential economies of scale.
All four countries already field the CV90. Furthermore, in 2024, Sweden, Lithuania, and Norway had each planned to expand their fleets. Norway was considering purchasing vehicles to equip a new Finnmark Brigade, while Lithuania had planned to organize two new mechanized battalions requiring CV90s. Additionally, Sweden has been replacing CV90s provided to Ukraine with the latest CV9035 Mk III and Mk IV models. Each participant in this collaborative procurement will gain significantly enhanced combat capabilities due to considerable improvements made by BAE Systems in the latest production versions.
The latest Mk III and Mk IV vehicles include advancements in firepower, protection, manoeuvrability, and adaptability, better meeting modern battlefield requirements. Armour has been enhanced, increasing combat weight, but the more powerful (up to 1,000 horsepower) power-pack and upgraded X300 heavy-duty transmission in the Mk IV retain exceptional mobility. The CV90 is also offered with Soucy Rubber Band Track and active damping suspension, providing a smoother ride, reduced vibration, and improved cross-country performance. A fully digital fourth-generation electronic architecture supports integrated onboard networking, advanced sensors, data management, and future technology integration. The CV90s can also be equipped with an innovative new turret, offering crews improved situational awareness, crew networking, protection, and lethality. The CV90 is in service with ten armies worldwide, with over 1,700 vehicles across seventeen variants. It has demonstrated exceptional capabilities not only in Nordic regions but also in hot desert environments like Afghanistan, where Norway deployed it. The CV90 has also seen combat in Ukraine, where its performance has been highly favourable despite these being early-model vehicles donated by Sweden. With the CV90’s recent selection by the Czech and Slovak armies, this collaborative purchase program by four Nordic/Baltic militaries will significantly expand BAE Systems’ footprint in the combat vehicle marketplace and further enhance the CV90’s well-deserved reputation. (Source: Armada)
30 Apr 2025. With the return of symmetric and high-intensity combat on the battlefield, the importance of armoured vehicles is now more crucial than ever. Thales’s TACTIS solution effectively addresses the needs of armed forces, offering a comprehensive range of training capabilities, from individual technical skills to tactical proficiency at a company level. This includes a mobile component that enables the deployment of high-fidelity simulators in military barracks or any other location.
• Thales has secured a major contract to modernise the TACTIS (Tactical Indoor Simulator) training centre for armoured vehicles used by the Royal Netherlands Army, one of the most advanced training centres in the world.
• This strategic project equips the Dutch land forces with cutting-edge AI technologies based on advanced behavioural engines and terrain reasoning algorithms, as well as ultra-realistic training environments, enhancing their training for complex missions and improving their overall readiness.
• The contract consolidates Thales’s role as the world leader in virtual simulation systems for armoured fighting vehicles.
The TACTIS centre is uniquely capable of interconnecting up to 76 simulators simultaneously, allowing for mission rehearsals with up to 200 crew members. This synergy is further enhanced by the integration of up to 2,500 virtual entities known as “Computer-Generated Forces”, enabling force members to conduct exercises in a combined arms environment.
The contract will fully modernise the TACTIS centre for the Royal Netherlands Army. This modernisation will include the simulation of more than 20 new types of vehicles, including the new generation of combat vehicle, the CV90 MkIV. Thales will cooperate with BAE Hägglunds, the vehicle manufacturer, to deliver high-fidelity simulations. The modernized training centre will also offer the ability to integrate future weapon systems that will be deployed within the Royal Netherlands Army, such as the LEO2A8 main battle tank.
The virtual environment will also reflect the new threats emerging on the battlefield including urban warfare. The level of immersion will be enhanced through the use of Unreal Engine 5, the world’s most open and advanced real-time 3D tool, allowing for the creation of ultra-realistic, high-quality training environments. This cutting-edge technology not only ensures effective learning but also simulates realistic combat conditions, enabling forces to prepare more effectively for contemporary challenges. Thanks to TACTIS, team training is optimised to effectively meet the demands of new operational theatres.
“The Netherlands Ministry of Defence has always been a step ahead when it comes to training their forces using simulation. We are honoured that they have renewed their trust in Thales through the modernization of their armoured fighting vehicle training centre ‘TACTIS’. It remains a world-class reference recognised by NATO member countries in Europe. This mid-life upgrade will incorporate Thales’s latest generation of simulation capabilities, offering unmatched immersion and realism to ensure force readiness for increasingly complex missions. This new contract is a testament to the strong and enduring partnership between the Netherlands Ministry of Defence and Thales, reinforcing our continued commitment to safeguarding the security and sovereignty of European nations” said Yannick Assouad, Executive Vice-President, Avionics, Thales.
30 Apr 25. US, UK, Australia conduct test of KC-46A refuelling RAAF Wedgetail. The collaboration has led to the certification of the KC-46A Pegasus for air-to-air refuelling of the RAAF’s E-7A Wedgetail. The US, UK, and Australia have successfully completed a joint test of a US Air Force (USAF) KC-46A Pegasus refuelling a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) E-7A Wedgetail aircraft. The tri-nation effort was aimed at enhancing global combat capabilities and collecting vital test data to inform future procurement of the E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. This collaborative achievement ensures that the KC-46A Pegasus can refuel the RAAF’s E-7A Wedgetail in flight, advancing certification processes for both the USAF and Royal Air Force’s (RAF) E-7 Wedgetail programmes.
This initiative is part of a larger strategy for trilateral cooperation that seeks to improve operational effectiveness through shared support, resources, and system commonality. The goal is to attain higher levels of operational dependability by leveraging efficiencies gained from scale.
The tests were conducted by the 418th Flight Test Squadron, Global Reach Combined Test Force. During these exercises, a RAAF E-7A Wedgetail was paired with a KC-46A Pegasus tanker in what was the first instance of aerial refuelling receiver certification involving a foreign aircraft type. With this capability, the RAAF E-7A can now be refuelled by USAF KC-46 aircraft, extending Australia’s combat range by offering alternatives to the conventional KC-135 Stratotanker and RAAF’s own KC-30A multi-role tanker transport.
The immediate impact of this enhanced combat capability will be felt within the Pacific region, said 412th Test Wing Public Affairs.
Moreover, the collaborative framework established during these tests promises to yield long-term benefits as both the USAF and RAF move towards integrating their respective E-7 Wedgetails in the near future.
Coordinating a tri-national test effort posed its own set of challenges, particularly in navigating the intricacies of secure data exchange between the KC-46 and E-7A platforms, which had not previously interacted.
The mission partner, Boeing, along with the KC-46 programme office, played a crucial role in assisting the 418th Flight Test Squadron to overcome these hurdles, noted the USAF.
An RAF representative took part in the testing process as well, given that the RAF is poised to operate its version of the E-7 Wedgetail. This direct involvement offered invaluable early insights ahead of their anticipated flight test programme.
Conducted over the Mojave Desert, this comprehensive testing heralds a new chapter for networked airborne early warning and control systems. Insights gained from these exercises are already shaping future test plans as both the RAF and USAF gear up for their transition to E-7 Wedgetail operations. Additionally, this experience has provided the KC-46 with a foundational dataset for certifying unique foreign aircraft types, showcasing a model of efficiency in testing processes, the USAF said.
Last month, Boeing Defence Australia secured a A$569m contract to enhance and maintain the RAAF’s E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
30 Apr 25. New UK defence spares site has eye on supply and storage threats. The LDSF site will hold defence materiel and spares and follows the opening in 2024 of the MoD Ashchurch vehicle storage facility.
Anew defence materiel and equipment site that will be used to store vast quantities of spare parts for the UK Armed Forces will soon begin operations, the latest in a series of programmes intended to improve the country’s logistics capabilities.
Dubbed Longtown Defence Storage Facility (LDSF), the £98.5m ($132m) facility will be managed by the UK’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), itself an arm of the country’s Ministry of Defence (MoD).
At 76,000m², the LDSF site will provide secure storage for “mission critical operational materiel and inventory”, the MoD stated in a 29 April release, adding the move would improve supply chain operations and “significantly increase” departmental storage, including large spare parts used by the British Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy.
The Longtown site will also ensure assets and capabilities at existing Defence Fulfilment Centres in Donnington, Shropshire and Bicester, Oxfordshire are more readily available to meet surges in demand, optimising support and delivery to those on the frontline when they need it most, the MoD stated.
Les Millar, DE&S Logistics, Services and Commodities Head of Strategy and Special Projects, said the completion of the LDSF would allow UK to be “better prepared” for military threats and was a “leap forward” in material storage capacity.
Day-to-day operations will be managed by Team Leidos and overseen by DE&S, with an official opening ceremony planned for later in the year.
UK looks to logistics and supply chains
The LDSF milestone is the latest in a series of programmes being undertaken by the UK to improve its ability to more effectively store military platforms and equipment in modern hubs.
In 2024 the UK’s new MoD Ashchurch site welcomed its first platform through its doors, a British Army Trojan armoured engineering vehicle, as part of the Vehicle Storage and Support Programme (VSSP) to deliver improved long-term storage capabilities to the UK military.
Signed in the summer of 2022, the VSSP’s first completed asset – an administration building for military personnel – was handed over earlier in August 2024, with all building activity set to conclude in 2027. The site will be able to store hundreds of military vehicles and armoured platforms.
The two-phase VSSP will provide vehicles with Controlled Humidity Environment (CHE) storage, reducing maintenance costs and unnecessary deterioration caused by extreme drops or rises in temperature.
The facility will also include dedicated inspection and maintenance spaces, as well as office space. (Source: army-technology.com)
29 Apr 25. Germany makes strategic push towards autonomous defence systems. Germany’s defence establishment is undergoing changes as decision makers respond to geopolitical pressures and capability gaps. Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s invocation of a “Zeitenwende” (turn of the times) signalled a shift towards modernising the Bundeswehr with advanced technologies, including automation and artificial intelligence (AI). While Germany has a long-standing reputation for caution on military matters, recent programmes and industry efforts demonstrate an emerging consensus that AI-enabled systems can bolster national readiness and alliance commitments.
Developments in unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), sensors, and digital command-and-control (C2) kits point to a strategy that is both forward-leaning and tightly regulated. German industry, research institutes, and the armed forces are merging AI with the broader concept being called ‘software-defined defence’, focusing on advanced equipment, ongoing verification efforts, and doctrinal adaptation.
System development
Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall has focused resources into developing UGVs and their attendant systems. Eight years of collaboration with end-users has resulted in enhancements to both its Mission Master family of UGVs and its Path autonomous kit (A-kit), which is a proprietary robotic control software suite that integrates autonomous capabilities into vehicles.
By using sensors, algorithms, and real-time data analysis, the A-kit enables full autonomous navigation even in the most challenging environments. Designed for rapid integration, it can be retrofitted onto existing vehicles or incorporated into next-generation platforms. It has a wireless ‘Safe Tablet’, which offers remote control and mission management for various tasks such as surveillance, armament, and logistics. (Source: Janes)
29 Apr 25. WB Group unveils new optionally unmanned ground vehicle based on Taero. WB Group unveiled its latest optionally unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) demonstrator based on the Taero UGV at the 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade’s training ground in Wesoła close to Warsaw on 24 April. The UGV is being developed by WB Group in co-operation with another local company, Auto Podlasie, which produces the lightweight, air-deployable Aero 4×4 all-terrain airborne vehicle operated by the Polish army’s 6th Airborne Brigade.
This new platform is based on the latest version of the Taero derived from the Aero 4×4 vehicle. Customer requirements call for the vehicle, a manned-unmanned land platform, to be remotely controlled by its operator.
The new UGV is fitted with WB Group communication and weapon systems. The platform presented had a six-tube launcher with Warmate TL in the loitering munition’s strike configuration but can also carry the Warmate TL-R reconnaissance version. WB Group spokesperson Remigiusz Wilk told Janes on 28 April that the platform might be armed with other remote-controlled weapon systems, including anti-tank guided missiles. The platform is 4.45 m long, 2.14 m wide, and weighs 2,340 kg, with a payload capacity of 1,200 kg. The vehicle has a 4.2 litre engine that produces 120 bhp. WB Group intends to include hybrid propulsion in the final configuration. The electric motor could be used during critical parts of a mission, reducing both noise and thermal signature. (Source: Janes)
29 Apr 25. British Army receives 100 Ajax armoured vehicles. The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the British Army’s Ajax armoured vehicle programme remains on track to achieve Initial Operating Capability (IOC) by December 2025, with 100 vehicles now formally accepted into service. In response to a Parliamentary Written Question from James Cartlidge MP (Conservative – South Suffolk) on 28 April, Defence Minister Maria Eagle stated: “The Armoured Cavalry programme continues to remain on track to achieve Initial Operating Capability by December 2025. As at 10 April 2025, 100 Ajax platforms have been accepted by the Ministry of Defence.”
The announcement marks a significant milestone for a project that had been dogged by technical problems, delays and cost overruns since its inception. General Dynamics UK recently completed production of the 100th Ajax vehicle, built to the latest standard, which is expected to enter service with the Household Cavalry Regiment. Despite years of challenges—including crew safety concerns stemming from noise and vibration issues—the Ministry of Defence remains confident that over 180 operationally deployable Ajax vehicles will be delivered to the Army by the end of 2025. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/ukdefencejournal.org.uk/)
28 Apr 25. Rheinmetall expands its Maintenance Capability in Australia. Rheinmetall, the largest supplier of defence vehicles and a prime contractor to the Australian Defence Force, has expanded its maintenance capability in the Northern Territory and Queensland.
Joern Buelter, Rheinmetall Defence Australia General Manager Logistic Vehicles, said the organisation has provided Medium Heavy Capability (MHC) Introduction and Maintenance training in association with partner RGM Maintenance.
“Rheinmetall Defence Australia’s training program ensures that RGM’s certification levels are the same as those performed by Australian Army personnel at Robertson Barracks in the Northern Territory on Rheinmetall MAN vehicles across the HX Truck fleet.
“The partnership reflects the strong commitment to regional maintenance capability development as outlined in the recent Defence Strategy Review (DSR) to force posture in the north of Australia.
“The growing fleet in Northern Territory and Northern Queensland means that Rheinmetall has delivered OEM HX Logistic Vehicle maintenance training to RGM Maintenance personnel from Darwin, Townsville and Rockhampton, strengthening sustainment capability across the north,” Mr Buelter said.
Mr Buelter said that RGM first joined with Rheinmetall in 2022 to bring ongoing secure jobs, training and sovereign industrial capability to regional Australia.
“RGM is the only trade repair organisation Rheinmetall has provided this certification to and is the in-region OEM repairer of choice.
“This training reinforces the enduring partnership between Rheinmetall and RGM Maintenance to successfully sustain the HX vehicles in-region.”
“Responding to the evolving needs of the Australian Defence Force is an ongoing commitment for Rheinmetall. We have established maintenance support in Queensland (Townsville and Rockhampton), Northern Territory and in Western Australia.
“Our head office maintenance bases in Ipswich at our Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence ensures the needs of Australia and its allies are well served,” Mr Buelter added.
In February, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia celebrated the achievement of LAND 121 3B/5B program Final Acceptance, signifying the successful delivery on time and on budget of more than 3000 HX Trucks and 3000 modules. The HX truck is a workhorse of the Australian Army, providing unmatched capability for Australia’s Defence Force. The six cylinder, in-line diesel engine vehicle with a weight of more than 41,000 kilograms, operates in temperatures -32o to +49 o and can traverse water depths of more than 1.2 metres. Capabilities include; an Integrated and Automated Load Handling System, Crane, Container Carrier, Recovery, Tractor, Tanker, Tipper, System Carrier and Artillery System.
27 Apr 25. The Army made a tank it doesn’t need and can’t use. Now it’s figuring out what to do with it. The M10 Booker busted its requirements from the beginning. It’s a case study in how Army procurement wants to change. As the 101st Airborne Division prepared last year to receive their first M10 Bookers—armored combat vehicles designed specifically for infantry forces—staff planners realized something: eight of the 11 bridges on Fort Campbell would crack under the weight of the “light tank.”
It turns out that though the vehicle was initially conceptualized as relatively lightweight—airdroppable by C-130—the twists and turns of the Army requirements process had rendered the tank too heavy to roll across the infrastructure at the infantry-centric Kentucky post, and nobody had thought about that until it was too late.
“This is not a story of acquisition gone awry,” Alex Miller, the Army’s chief technology officer, told Defense One. “This is a story of the requirements process creating so much inertia that the Army couldn’t get out of its own way, and it just kept rolling and rolling and rolling.”
It’s a twist on the classic Pentagon procurement snafu—a program that moves so slowly that it’s outdated by the time it reaches the field.
In this case, the Army knew early on that it wasn’t going to be able to make the thing it had set out to make, but it was bound and determined to make something. So it made something it doesn’t actually need.
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The Booker is a stark reminder of what can happen when the system is checking the boxes but doing no critical thinking. With the service under pressure to streamline the way it develops new technology, the Army has vowed to turn things around.
How did this happen?
Pretty soon after 82nd Airborne Division leaders told the Army in 2013 they’d like a new light tank, à la the retired M551 Sheridan, the team working on its requirements hit a snag. The 82nd had asked to be able to airdrop the new vehicle from a C-130 or C-17, but nothing even roughly the size and capability of a Sheridan was going to fit inside a C-130.
“I can’t give you a rationale why everything wasn’t backed off,” Miller said. “But the first time that the requirement was sent to the one-stars in September of ‘13, and it didn’t look like the [operational needs statement] that came up in July of 2013, the Army should have gone, ‘Stop.’ “
Instead, they resolved to push ahead with what was then the Mobile Protected Firepower program.
The Army Requirements Oversight Council took a look at the 2015 requirements submission and said, never mind, it doesn’t need to be loaded onto a C-130, and actually, don’t worry about airdropping it either. The Joint Requirements Oversight Council signed off.
“And that’s where you start to see in the story, things starting to crumble,” Miller said. “As all of us know, as soon as you remove the requirement for airdropability, you’re no longer actually helping infantry. You are just as maneuverable as a main battle tank at that point, which means you are less maneuverable.”
And it didn’t come up again until last year, when Fort Campbell prepared to take possession of the final product. Or if it did, perhaps, the amount of work it would take to go back and change the requirements felt insurmountable.
“There is a monster of inertia,” Miller said. “No one wants to stop anything at that point, or certainly go back and re-look, because if you make any edits to the requirement, you have to restart the process.”
So the MPF rolled on, frozen in 2016—and saddled with requirements from far older eras. It was required to use the Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System, or SINCGARS, first fielded in 1990. The Pentagon has tried to replace SINCGARS, famously spending 15 years and $15 bn only to cancel the Joint Tactical Radio System program. The Army is still working on it.
The requirements also locked the Army into buying 504 vehicles, because a 10-percent increase in program cost would trigger a new review of the requirements.
In 2022, Miller said, the requirements were updated—mystifyingly—to say that it doesn’t need to have optionally-manned or autonomous capability, despite the entire Defense Department’s march toward uncrewed technology.
“So now you have a vehicle that is the best idea of 2013, that has the best technology limitations of 2013—which are really technology limitations of 2000, because you’re trying to be backwards-compatible,” he said. “You’ve added boundary conditions that say you can’t expand. You can’t expand the capabilities because you can’t add autonomy. You can’t actually add digital technologies. And the process continues to move.”
In 2018, the Army decided to station the M10s at Fort Bragg, N.C., with the 82nd; Fort Campbell with the 101st; Fort Carson, Colo., with the 4th Infantry Division; and Fort Johnson, La., at the Joint Readiness Training Center.
But the doctrine, training, facilities and other considerations required to onboard a new system hadn’t been finished yet, Miller said. Nor had the National Environmental Policy reviews, “which normally take forever,” and the mobility reviews hadn’t been done either.
Posts like Fort Riley, Kansas, or Fort Cavazos, Texas, home armored brigades, are built to enable tanks to move around. But Fort Campbell is all about infantry and Special Forces.
“So now you’ve got divisions who can’t train on their systems. You’ve got systems that don’t actually meet any current needs, because they’re not airdroppable, and they require C-17s,” Miller said.
The sour cherry on top, he added, arrived when the Air Force changed its load restrictions so that the Army could only put one M10 on a C-17, rather than the two the service had counted on. The M10 weighs 42 tons—much lighter than the 70-ton M1 Abrams, but more than twice as much as the 16-ton Sheridan it was to replace.
So now what?
There are three M10s operating at Bragg, but the Army isn’t sure it’s going to see through the low-rate production contract it awarded to General Dynamics in 2022, to make up to 96 tanks. The plan was to get to full production in 2025, then 2027.
“I know that everyone was trying to do the right thing, and I want to stress that everyone was trying to do the right thing for their piece of the process,” Miller told Defense One, paraphrasing what Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said when he heard the story of the M10. “But, what the secretary, the chief, have said is, ‘OK, ready, take a step back. The process does not exist to serve itself. The process exists for us.’ “
At the moment, the Army is working on a new Abrams variant that will look a lot like what the M10 probably should have been.
“So we’ll have a lighter main battle tank that has all the features that we want: things like autoloader, things like partial autonomy, active protection systems,” Miller said. “What I think the secretary and the chief were holding in reserve is, can that actually satisfy the need?”
If they can get the M1A3 into production quickly, with all the new motivation the service has to procure more efficiently, they might be able to off-ramp the M10 without buying a bunch more of them.
“So what we will end up doing, I think, is reviewing what that program looks like after the first three units that we bought, and figuring out what the next steps are,” Miller said. “Rather than resting on our laurels and just saying, ‘We’re stuck in this process; we need to buy this for 20 or 30 years.’ Because that doesn’t make sense.”
The process in 2025 is different enough, he stressed, that a mistake like the Booker wouldn’t happen again. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George has used his authority over the AROC to introduce what amounts to another step in the process, but is meant to validate those gold-plated requirements before they get fully locked in.
“He goes, ‘I approve this requirement for 120 days. You need to come back and make sure that you can actually do all the things that you said you can do, and do it at the price point that provides the best value to the Army,’ “ Miller said.
If it can’t, it’s toast. And the Army wants to get better at “no.”
“On the kick of fixing the acquisition and procurement process in total, this is a case study on, ‘Wow, we really have got to fix this’,” Miller said. “We are just willing to go, ‘Hey, we’re not doing this anymore.” (Source: News Now/Defense One)
25 Apr 25. Jorsin ready to assist SANDF with Ratel upgrades. Following years of delays, it now looks probable that Hoefyster – the project to replace the SA Army’s Ratel infantry fighting vehicles – is set to be shelved. Consequently, the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) has had to consider alternatives to the project to meet the Defence Force’s needs over the short to medium term. There has been growing speculation over the past several months that the SANDF will embark on a major project to revitalise and upgrade the existing fleet of ageing and increasingly obsolete Ratels. Hoefyster was meant to bring in a new era for the SANDF through the acquisition of new, modern Badger infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs). However, the project has seen repeated delays over the more than a decade since its inception with there still being no clear date of expected completion. As the SANDF looks to find interim or even alternative solutions to this problem, Jorsin, founded in 1997 by Jorrie Jordaan, has emerged a key contender for the touted Ratel upgrades. Jorsin has built a strong reputation for its dedication to high quality yet relatively low cost with an efficient and punctual turnover rate in their work, Jordaan told defenceWeb. Notably, Jorsin also has extensive experience with maintaining and repairing Ratels, with the company’s personnel having experience working on the famous IFV since the 1980s. Consequently, Jorsin have been awarded numerous contracts from the SANDF for Ratel maintenance and repairs over the years, highlighting its expertise and reliability.
As part of this Jorsin has built up an extensive knowledgebase and tool set in relation to the Ratel. This is because the company has been forced to conduct extensive reverse engineering on the Ratel and its components in order to successfully complete their contracts with the SANDF. This problem is primarily the result of parts having become increasingly scarce over the years as production of the now well over 40-year-old IFV ceased decades ago.
Consequently, other local companies have been largely reliant on Jorsin for Ratel parts, Jordaan told defenceWeb. Jorsin is expecting yet another order in the near future from a local company in order to fulfil a contract to refurbish and export six Ratels to an undisclosed African nation.
Speaking with defenceWeb, Jordaan said “it now looks probable that Hoefyster will be shelved by the end of the year, with the SANDF now looking at a serious upgrading scheme for the Ratel.”
Notably, Jorsin has also already begun experimenting with upgrades to the Ratel, with a particular focus on reorganising the Ratel to allow for a mid-engined configuration, similar to Jorsin’s new Tau vehicle, with the aim of maximising reliability and ease of maintenance.
Jorsin contends that this, refurbishment and upgrading of existing platforms, is one of the key areas of its expertise. “This is something we are really good at, giving something a second chance at life with conversions,” Jordaan told defenceWeb.
Jorsin is confident that when the decision comes through to move forward with the Ratel upgrade, and should all go well, it will be awarded the contract and will be able to deliver a high-quality product at a reasonable price. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
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