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May 3, 2022
The Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV)
Background
operated. In the close fight, the OMFV enables the
The Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV)
ability of dismounted elements to maneuver by
is intended to replace the Army’s M-2 Bradley Infantry
detecting and destroying targets at a range beyond
Fighting Vehicle (IFV) (see Figure 1 for a notional
the enemy’s capability.
example). Optionally manned means the OMFV is to have
OMFV Capabilities
the ability to conduct remotely controlled operations while
a crew is not in the vehicle and to function autonomously
The Army notes four planned OMFV capabilities:
with the Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV).
The OMFV is to enable command and control at the
platoon level and higher by rapidly generating,
The M-2 Bradley, which has been in service since 1981,
receiving, and passing information to dismounted
transports infantry on the battlefield and provides fire
elements, other vehicles, and command nodes.
support to dismounted troops and suppresses or destroys
enemy fighting vehicles. Updated numerous times since its
The OMFV is to be able to detect, engage, and destroy
introduction, the M-2 Bradley is widely considered to have
enemy infantry fighting vehicles beyond the range of the
reached the technological limits of its capacity to
enemy’s primary weapon system, and to rapidly defeat
accommodate new electronics, armor, and defense systems.
dismounted enemy infantry threats. The OMFV would
Two past efforts to replace the M-2 Bradley—the Future
also enhance unit-level lethality by providing target
Combat System (FCS) Program and the Ground Combat
acquisition data, shared situational understanding, and
Vehicle (GCV) Program—were cancelled for programmatic
the lethal effects required to protect and orient friendly
and cost-associated reasons.
dismounted infantry.
The OMFV aims to improve organizational
Figure 1. Notional Example—OMFV
effectiveness by reducing the logistics burden on the
Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT). This is to be
achieved through enhanced reliability and on-board
diagnostics and prognostics; ease of maintenance with
the use of standard, common tools; and reduced burdens
on the supply chain in terms of spare parts, fuel, and
munitions.
The OMFV aims to be built to allow rapid adaptation by
the means of growth margins that allow for the insertion
and integration of future technologies.
OMFV Acquisition Approach
OMFV is to be Army’s first ground combat vehicle
designed using state-of-the-art digital engineering tools and
techniques. It is also designed from the onset as a Modular
Source: U.S. Naval Institute (USNI), https://news.usni.org/2021/12/
Open Systems Architected (MOSA) platform based on an
30/report-to-congress-on-armys-optional y manned-fighting-vehicle,
Army-defined and -owned open standard. As technology
accessed April 18, 2022.
and software evolve, MOSA could potentially facilitate
Note: This is a notional example; the Army’s OMFV selected for
rapid OMFV to modernization at a reduced cost. The open
production may differ from this example.
architecture of the OMFV could also offer more
opportunities for industry competition and innovations as
Role of the OMFV
the OMFV is upgraded.
According to OMFV Program Information released by the
Army on February 28, 2022:
The Army is conducting a five-phase acquisition approach
to design, prototype, test, and produce the OMFV:
The Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV)
will serve as the Army’s Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Phase 1 consists of Market Research and
Requirement Development.
(IFV) tasked to maneuver through the enemy’s
security zone as part of a combined arms team for
Phase 2, the Concept Design Phase, includes modeling,
the purpose of creating an advantageous position,
simulation, and analysis (MS&A) to inform
relative to the enemy, and providing protection and
requirements and support initial design activities.
direct fire lethality while manned or remotely
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The Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV)
Phase 3, the Detailed Design Phase, includes detailed
board for up to three vendors for the Phase 3 and Phase 4
design activities to mature OMFV designs and
contracts for Detailed Design/Prototype Build and Test.
concludes with a Critical Design Review (CDR). A
CDR is a technical review to ensure the initial product
Selected Potential Issues for Congress
baseline is established. Successful completion of CDR
provides the technical basis for proceeding into
The Army’s Plans for OMFV Fielding
fabrication, integration, development, test, and
The Army has, at present, 11 Active ABCTs and 5 Army
evaluation of a system.
National Guard ABCTs. There are around 150 M-2
Bradleys in each ABCT, for a total of 2,400 M-2s dedicated
Phase 4, the Prototype Build and Test Phase, verifies
to ABCTs. While still in Phase 2 of development, issues
prototype performance against performance
related to the potential eventual fielding of the OMFV
specifications. Late in this phase, a Limited User Test
include the following:
(LUT) is to be conducted. A LUT addresses a limited
number of issues identified during the acquisition
Will OMFVs replace M-2s in ABCTS on a one-for-one
process and can be conducted anytime during the
basis? If not, how many OMFVs are planned for each
acquisition process.
ABCT?
Phase 5, the Production and Fielding Phase, is to
How many additional OMFVs will be required over and
result in a single Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP)
above those needed for ABCTs? How many OMFVs
contract for production, testing, and initial fielding.
will be required for Army Prepositioned Stocks?
LRIP is the point when manufacturing development is
In the past, the Army has fielded new systems as a
completed and the ability to produce a small-quantity set
brigade set. Does the Army intend to field OMFVs as a
of articles for testing is achieved. LRIP also establishes
brigade set? If so, how many ABCTs per year are
an initial production base, setting the stage for a gradual
planned to be equipped with OMFVs?
increase in production rate to allow for full-rate
production once testing is completed.
Will Army National Guard ABCTs be equipped with
OMFVs and, if so, will they be equipped concurrently
Program Activities
with Active ABCTs or after Active ABCTs are fully
equipped?
Phase Two Contracts Awarded
The Army announced the award of five firm-fixed price
Lessons Learned from the Ukraine Conflict
contracts for OMFV Phase 2 Concept Design Phase using
There are a number of military observations emerging from
full and open competitive procedures on July 23, 2021. The
the current Ukraine conflict. One observation is that
contracts were awarded to Point Blank Enterprises, Inc.
Russian armored vehicles have allegedly proven highly
(Miami Lakes, FL); Oshkosh Defense, LLC (Oshkosh, WI);
vulnerable to anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) such as
BAE Systems Land and Armaments L.P. (Sterling Heights,
the Raytheon and Lockheed Martin-manufactured Javelin
MI); General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc. (Sterling
ATGM. Reports suggest that the Russians have lost
Heights, MI); and American Rheinmetall Vehicles, LLC
significant numbers of armored vehicles to ATGM systems.
(Sterling Heights, MI). The total award value for all five
Given this observation and its possible implications for
contracts was approximately $299.4 million. During this
armored fighting vehicles in general, what are some of the
phase, competing firms were asked to develop digital
lessons learned to date about armored fighting vehicle
designs.
vulnerability to ATGMs? Does the Army have any plans to
incorporate any Ukraine lessons learned into OMFV
Planned Future Acquisition Phases
design? If so, what are some of the potential design
Upon successful completion of the Concept Design Phase,
changes/new capabilities planned for incorporation into
the Army intends to have a another full and open
final OMFV design? Are there cost implications associated
competition for Phase 3, the Detailed Design Phase, and
with potential OMFV design changes/new capabilities?
plans to call for an award of up to three contracts in the
second quarter of FY2023. The awardees are then to
Related CRS Products
transition into Phase 4, the Prototype Build and Test Phase,
in order to build and test actual prototypes. The Army then
CRS Report R45519, The Army’s Optionally Manned
intends to select one vendor for Low-Rate Initial Production
Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) Program: Background and Issues
near the end of FY2027.
for Congress, by Andrew Feickert.
FY2023 OMFV Budget Request
CRS In Focus IF11876, The Army’s Robotic Combat
According to the April 2022 Army Justification Book for
Vehicle (RCV) Program, by Andrew Feickert.
Research, Development, Test & Evaluation
(RDT&E)−Volume II, Budget Activity 5D, the Army’s
FY2023 OMFV budget request is $589.762 million for
RDT&E funding. Among other things, these funds are to be
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
used for supporting the execution of a source selection
IF12094
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV)
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12094 · VERSION 1 · NEW