The Army’s XM-30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle (Formerly the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle [OMFV])

Updated March 3April 22, 2026 (IF12094)

Background

The Army's XM-30, previously known as the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV), is being designed to replace the M-2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) (see Figure 1 for a notional example). Optionally manned means the OMFV is to have the capability to conduct remotely controlled operations while a crew is not in the vehicle. The M-2 Bradley, which has been in service since 1981, transports infantry on the battlefield, provides fire support to dismounted troops, and can destroy enemy fighting vehicles. Updated numerous times since its introduction, the M-2 Bradley is widely considered to have reached the technological limits of its capacity to accommodate new electronics, armor, and defensive systems. Two past efforts to replace the M-2 Bradley—the Future Combat System (FCS) Program and the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) Program—were cancelled for programmatic and cost-associated reasons.

Figure 1. Notional Example—OMFVXM-30

Source: "U.S. Army plans initial production of new XM30 infantry fighting vehicle to replace Bradley in late 2027," Army Recognition, June 15, 2025, https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2025/breaking-news-us-army-plans-initial-production-of-xm30-infantry-fighting-vehicle-to-replace-bradley-in-late-2027U.S. Naval Institute (USNI), https://news.usni.org/2021/12/30/report-to-congress-on-armys-optionally manned-fighting-vehicle, accessed April 18, 2022. Note: This is a notional example; the Army's OMFV selected for production may differ from this example.

OMFV Redesignated XM-30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle

On June 26, 2023, uponon the completion of the initial digital design phase, the Army redesignated the OMFV as the XM-30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle.

Role of the XM-30

According to the 2024 Department of Defense (DOD) FY 2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapons Systems,

The XM-30 Combat Vehicle (previously OMFV), as part of an Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT), will replace the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle to provide the capabilities required to defeat a future near-peer competitor's force. The XM-30 is an optionally manned platform that maneuvers soldiers to a point of positional advantage to engage in close combat and deliver decisive lethality during the execution of combined arms maneuver. It is designed to operate with and may operate without a crew and soldiers under armor based on the commander's decision. It delivers decisive lethality during the execution of combined arms maneuver while also controlling maneuver robotics and semi-autonomous systems

XM-30 Acquisition Approach

The XM-30 is currently a Middle Tier Acquisition Rapid Prototyping (MTA-RP) program. The XM-30 is to be the Army's first ground combat vehicle designed using state-of-the-art digital engineering tools and techniques. It is to be designed from the onset as a Modular Open Systems Architected (MOSA) platform based on an Army-defined and -owned open standard. As technology and software evolve, MOSA could potentially facilitate rapid XM-30 modernization at a reduced cost. The open architecture of the XM-30 could also offer more opportunities for industry competition and innovations as the XM-30 is upgraded.

The Army is conducting a five-phase acquisition approach to design, prototype, test, and produce the XM-30:

• Phase 1 consists of Market Research and Requirement Development.
• Phase 2, the Concept Design Phase, includes modeling, simulation, and analysis (MS&A) to inform requirements and support initial design activities.
• Phase 3, the Detailed Design Phase, includes detailed design activities to mature XM-30 designs and concludes with a Critical Design Review (CDR). A CDR is, a technical review to ensure the initial product baseline is established. Successful completion of CDR provides the technical basis for proceeding into fabrication, integration, development, test, and evaluation of a system.
• Phase 4, the Prototype Build and Test Phase, verifies prototype performance against performance specifications. Late in this phase, a Limited User Testlimited user test (LUT) is to be conducted.
• Phase 5, the Production and Fielding Phase, is to result in a single Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract for production, testing, and initial fielding.

Program Activities

Phase 2 Contracts Awarded

The Army announced the award of five firm-fixed price contracts for XM-30 Phase 2 Concept Design Phase using full and open competitive procedures on July 23, 2021. The contracts were awarded to Point Blank Enterprises, Inc. (Miami Lakes, FL); Oshkosh Defense, LLC (Oshkosh, WI); BAE Systems Land and Armaments L.P. (Sterling Heights, MI); General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc. (Sterling Heights, MI); and American Rheinmetall Vehicles, LLC (Sterling Heights, MI). The total award value for all five contracts was approximately $299.4 million. DuringIn this phase, competing firms were asked to develop digital designs. On November 1, 2022, it was reported that all five firms had submitted their XM-30 digital designs prior to the November 1 deadline. All five proposals reportedly were hybrid electric vehicles.

Phase 3 and 4 Contracts Awarded

On June 26, 2023, the Army announced

[t]he award of two firm-fixed price contracts for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle [XM-30] Phase 3 and 4 Detailed Design and Prototype Build and Testing phases, using full and open competitive procedures. The contracts were awarded to General Dynamics Land Systems Inc. (Sterling Heights, MI) and American Rheinmetall Vehicles LLC (Sterling Heights, MI). The total award value for both contracts is approximately $1.6 billion.

FY2025 Program Update

According to the Department of Defense (DOD) FY 2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapons Systems,

The Army anticipates transitioning from an MTA-RP to a Major Capability Acquisition Pathway at Milestone B in the 2^nd quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 and plans to enter Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) in the 1^st quarter FY 2028 with a Full Rate Production (FRP) decision slated for FY 2030.

FY2026 Program Update

According to the Department of Defense (DOD) FY 2026 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapons Systems,

The XM30 is an MTA-RP program. Milestone B was approved in June 2025, and Milestone C is targeted for first quarter FY 2028. The Army Transformation Initiative will accelerate this program. [In FY2026 the Army] continues to fund prototype vehicle designs from Preliminary Design Review (PDR) through CDR in preparation for both physical prototype builds and tests.

XM-30 Preliminary Design Review (PDR)

Reportedly, General Dynamics Land Systems and American Rheinmetall Vehicles completed their PDR in August 2024 and, after a critical design review, development of physical prototypes was planned to begin. According to Defense News,

Prototypes will take 18 to 20 months to construct after the critical design reviews wrap up. Once prototypes are delivered, the Army will move into a test and evaluation phase with both competitors before deciding on a winner in FY2027. The first vehicles are expected to be fielded in FY2029.

Milestone B Decision

In June 2025, the U.S. Army reportedly approved Milestone B for the XM-30 program, advancing it into the engineering manufacturing development phase after both competitors completed critical design reviews. However, inIn February 2026, Army leadership reportedly opted not to sign documentation finalizing the Milestone B decision to avoid locking the service into a specific design or a slow acquisition path, effectively pausing formal program transition and prompting a reevaluation of the program's approach.

FY2026 Program Update

According to the Department of Defense (DOD) FY 2026 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapons Systems

The XM30 is an MTA-RP program. Milestone B was approved in June 2025, and Milestone C is targeted for first quarter FY 2028. The Army Transformation Initiative will accelerate this program. [In FY2026 the Army] continues to fund prototype vehicle designs from Preliminary Design Review (PDR) through CDR in preparation for both physical prototype builds and tests.

XM-30 Milestone B Pause and a New Request for Information (RFI)

According to the February 2026 report, thethen Chief of Staff of the Army, General Randy George, and the Secretary of the Army, Dan Driscoll, decided not to sign off on the Milestone B decision "to leave the door open to a major reworking of the XM-30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle program." Reportedly, regarding the pause, an Army spokesman stated the following:

We are actively assessing multiple, competing designs for the XM-30 to foster a truly competitive environment We continue to look for partners who can deliver cutting-edge solutions now, not decades from now. This is a deliberate and necessary step to ensure we assess and select the best approach to deliver a world class vehicle today and into the future.

A February 18, 2026, Request for Information (RFI) for Ground Combat Vehicle Production, while not specifically mentioning replacing the XM-30 or Bradley, seeks "information from industry partners to explore innovative solutions for the rapid design, production, and delivery of ground combat vehicles." It was reportedly suggested such an action by Army leadership could serve to put pressure on the current XM-30 developers to accelerate the program and also open the program to existing fighting vehicle designs.

Potential Oversight Issue for Congress

The Viability of the XM-30 Program

Should the Army decide to end the current XM-30 effort at Milestone B, any new effort would reportedly be the seventh attempt to replace the Bradley since the 1980s. This arguably raises several questions: After about four decades of attempts, can the Army decide upon and field a suitable Bradley IFV replacement? Furthermore, what are the ramifications for the armored fighting vehicle defense industrial base going forward if successive Bradley replacement efforts have ended at the prototype phase or earlier? Could this discourage vendors from current and future U.S. Army IFV development altogether? Given the Army's past attempts to replace the Bradley and the apparent uncertainty of the program's way forward, Congress might decide to examine the viability of the XM-30 program

FY2027 XM-30 Budget Request

According to Army Budget documents, the Army is requesting $547 million in procurement funding for 19 prototype vehicles for evaluation. The Army notes that prime contractor(s) have yet to be identified, but award decisions for the 19 vehicles will be based on contractor performance during the MTA-RP phase and testing and operational evaluations.

Fall 2026 XM-30 Testing

Reportedly, the 1^st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, TX, is to be the first unit to receive new prototypes of the XM-30 this fall. Reportedly

The Army's largest division will take on two platoons of the XM-30, designed to replace the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, and one platoon of M-1E3 Abrams tanks by the end of the year. From there, soldiers will be "shooting, moving and communicating" at the National Training Center [NTC] at Fort Irwin, CA, through March [2027].

As part of this operational testing, the Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) reportedly is "to work in conjunction with the division to monitor the assessments from 1^st Cavalry soldiers, who will provide feedback to engineers for minor adjustments."

Potential Oversight Issue for Congress

XM-30 Organic Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (C-UAS) Capability

While the Army has stated that the XM-30 is to have an organic active protection system (APS) that can detect, track, and neutralize anti-tank threats by means of kinetic and passive countermeasures, it is not clear if the XM-30 also will have an organic C-UAS capability. Some have suggested that UAS, loitering munitions, and one-way attack drones could make armored fighting vehicles (AFVs) obsolete; others contend new technologies are needed to improve AFV survivability against UAS and other aerial systems. Congress might decide to examine the Army's approach to provide organic protection to the XM-30 against aerial threats.