On June 4, General Dynamics Land Systems published a press release about completing the Critical Design Review of its proposed blueprint for the new IFV for the US Army.

Originally born as the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) and redesignated as the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle in June 2023 following early evaluations, the new IFV is being designed to replace the M2 BRADLEY currently in use. Curiously, General Dynamics appears to have subsequently taken down its release, a sign that it might have been published before receiving appropriate assent from the Army.

The new IFV program is currently in its third phase (detailed design) following the award of contracts to 2 finalist contenders: General Dynamics Land Systems Inc. and American Rheinmetall Vehicles LLC. The contract awarded to GD had a value of 768.6 million USD, with the award to Rheinmetall valued at 812.5 million.

The offers to go through concept design (Phase 2) had been 5, but the entries from Point Blank Enterprises, Inc; Oshkosh Defense, LLC and BAE Systems Land and Armaments were eventually discarded.

The XM-30 is to be Army’s first ground combat vehicle designed using state of-the-art digital engineering tools and techniques, so its development so far has been essentially carried out in the virtual world.

A decision by the Army towards the construction of actual prototypes had originally been expected in April but was pushed back and is currently awaited by the end of June. Under the terms of the 2023 contracts, each company will be expected to deliver 7 prototypes, with 4 additional options.

The XM30 is designed with digital engineering and modular open systems in mind, which will allow continuous enhancements over time.

GD’s hull for the XM30 is believed to be a further development of the GRIFFIN III, itself a development of work carried out through the ASCOD SV (british AJAX) line of vehicles. The GRIFFIN line also served as base for the M10 BOOKER which is however being terminated under current US Army plans.

Bar possible change of plans, according to FY 2025 budget documentations, following the selection of the final winner in 2027, Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) would begin in the 1st quarter FY 2028 with a Full Rate Production (FRP) decision slated for FY 2030.

The rival entry from Rheinmetall is understood to be based on the K41 LYNX IFV configuration offered to Australia. The LYNX was not eventually successful in Australia, which picked the South Korean KF-21 REDBACK instead.

It is expected that the XM30 will be armed with the US Army’s XM913 50mm cannon, but at a minimum it will have the XM813 30mm. It is expected to have a crew of 2 sitting in the hull, with the turret being uncrewed, and room for 6 dismounts in the back, with optional capability to be employed uncrewed in combat. Propulsion is expected to be hybrid-electric.

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