IAV 2024: First M10 Booker combat vehicle to be delivered in February

The M10 Booker combat vehicle will equip US Army infantry BCTs starting in 2025. (US Army/Bernardo Fuller)

The US Army's first M10 combat vehicle is scheduled to be delivered in February, Janes learnt at Defence iQ's International Armour Vehicles (IAV) 2024 conference held in London from 22 to 25 January. The first phase of low-rate initial production (LRIP 1) of the M10 began in the first quarter (Q1) of fiscal year (FY) 2023, following a USD1.4 billion contract award to General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) in June 2022.

The company announced on 6 July 2023 that it had received a USD257.6 million contract modification for LRIP 2. Initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) is planned to commence in Q4 of FY 2024. The first unit equipped (FUE) with the M10 is planned for 2025.

The vehicle is designed to deliver a mobile, protected direct fire capability to US Army infantry brigade combat teams (BCTs), with its XM35 105 mm main armament providing lethal and sustained fires against enemy armoured vehicles, hardened fortifications, and dismounted soldiers.

Despite “significant” commonality with the M1 Abrams main battle tank, Doug Bush, assistant secretary of the army for acquisition, logistics, and technology in the department of the army, told IAV 2024 on 24 January that the M10 Booker is “lighter and faster than the Abrams M1, but still with a lethal 105 mm punch”. The M10 also has a 7.62 mm co-axial machine gun.

Featuring kinetic energy as well as overhead and underbody protection, the M10 is designed to be fast and mobile enough to support US Army infantry BCTs. Two M10s can be airlifted by a C-17 transport aircraft.