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Updated March 14, 2023
The Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV)
Background
OMFV Capabilities
The Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV)
The Army notes four planned OMFV capabilities:
is being designed to replace the M-2 Bradley Infantry
Enable command and control at the platoon level and
Fighting Vehicle (IFV) (see Figure 1 for a notional
higher by rapidly generating, receiving, and passing
example). Optionally manned means the OMFV is to have
information to dismounted elements, other vehicles, and
the capability to conduct remotely controlled operations
command nodes.
while a crew is not in the vehicle. The M-2 Bradley, which
has been in service since 1981, transports infantry on the
Detect, engage, and destroy enemy infantry fighting
battlefield, provides fire support to dismounted troops, and
vehicles beyond the range of the enemy’s primary
can destroy enemy fighting vehicles. Updated numerous
weapon system, and rapidly defeat dismounted enemy
times since its introduction, the M-2 Bradley is widely
infantry threats. The OMFV would also enhance unit-
considered to have reached the technological limits of its
level lethality by providing target acquisition data,
capacity to accommodate new electronics, armor, and
shared situational understanding, and the lethal effects
defensive systems. Two past efforts to replace the M-2
required to protect and orient friendly dismounted
Bradley—the Future Combat System (FCS) Program and
infantry.
the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) Program—were
cancelled for programmatic and cost-associated reasons.
Improve organizational effectiveness by reducing the
logistics burden on the Armored Brigade Combat Team
Figure 1. Notional Example—OMFV
(ABCT) through enhanced reliability and on-board
diagnostics and prognostics; ease of maintenance; and
reduced burdens on the supply chain in terms of spare
parts, fuel, and munitions.
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 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 OMFV modernization at a reduced cost. The open
Source: U.S. Naval Institute (USNI), https://news.usni.org/2021/12/
architecture of the OMFV could also offer more
30/report-to-congress-on-armys-optional y manned-fighting-vehicle,
opportunities for industry competition and innovations as
accessed April 18, 2022.
the OMFV is upgraded.
Note: This is a notional example; the Army’s OMFV selected for
The Army is conducting a five-phase acquisition approach
production may differ from this example.
to design, prototype, test, and produce the OMFV:
Role of the OMFV
Phase 1 consists of Market Research and
According to OMFV Program Information released by the
Requirement Development.
Army on February 28, 2022:
Phase 2, the Concept Design Phase, includes modeling,
The Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV)
simulation, and analysis (MS&A) to inform
will serve as the Army’s Infantry Fighting Vehicle
requirements and support initial design activities.
(IFV) tasked to maneuver through the enemy’s
security zone as part of a combined arms team for
Phase 3, the Detailed Design Phase, includes detailed
design activities to mature OMFV designs and
the purpose of creating an advantageous position,
concludes with a Critical Design Review (CDR). A
relative to the enemy, and providing protection and
CDR is a technical review to ensure the initial product
direct fire lethality while manned or remotely
baseline is established. Successful completion of CDR
operated. In the close fight, the OMFV enables the
provides the technical basis for proceeding into
ability of dismounted elements to maneuver by
fabrication, integration, development, test, and
detecting and destroying targets at a range beyond
evaluation of a system.
the enemy’s capability.
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The Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV)
Phase 4, the Prototype Build and Test Phase, verifies
Funds the fully digital, detailed prototype vehicle
prototype performance against performance
designs from Preliminary Design Review (PDR)
specifications. Late in this phase, a Limited User Test
through to the Critical Design Review (CDR) in
(LUT) is to be conducted.
preparation for the prototype builds and testing
Phase 5, the Production and Fielding Phase, is to
portion of Phase 3 and 4 in the program’s
result in a single Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP)
development.
contract for production, testing, and initial fielding.
Program Activities
Potential Issues for Congress
Phase Two Contracts Awarded
The Army’s Plans for OMFV Fielding
The Army announced the award of five firm-fixed price
The Army has, at present, 11 Active ABCTs and 5 Army
contracts for OMFV Phase 2 Concept Design Phase using
National Guard ABCTs. There are around 150 M-2
full and open competitive procedures on July 23, 2021. The
Bradleys in each ABCT, for a total of 2,400 M-2s dedicated
contracts were awarded to Point Blank Enterprises, Inc.
to ABCTs.
(Miami Lakes, FL); Oshkosh Defense, LLC (Oshkosh, WI);
Will OMFVs replace M-2s in ABCTS on a one-for-one
BAE Systems Land and Armaments L.P. (Sterling Heights,
basis? If not, how many OMFVs are planned for each
MI); General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc. (Sterling
ABCT?
Heights, MI); and American Rheinmetall Vehicles, LLC
(Sterling Heights, MI). The total award value for all five
How many additional OMFVs will be required over and
contracts was approximately $299.4 million. During this
above those needed for ABCTs? How many OMFVs
phase, competing firms were asked to develop digital
will be required for Army Prepositioned Stocks?
designs. On November 1, 2022, it was reported that all five
In the past, the Army has fielded new systems as a
firms had submitted their OMFV digital designs prior to the
brigade set. Does the Army intend to field OMFVs as a
November 1 deadline. All five proposals reportedly were
brigade set? If so, how many ABCTs per year are
hybrid electric vehicles. It is not known if other companies
planned to be equipped with OMFVs?
submitted OMFV digital designs by the November 1, 2022
deadline.
Lessons Learned from the Ukraine Conflict
Planned Future Acquisition Phases
There are a number of military observations emerging from
the current Ukraine conflict. One observation is that
Upon successful completion of the Concept Design Phase,
Russian armored vehicles have allegedly proven highly
the Army intends to have another full and open competition
vulnerable to anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) such as
for Phase 3, the Detailed Design Phase, and plans called for
the Javelin ATGM. Reports suggest the Russians have lost
an award of up to three contracts in the second quarter of
significant numbers of armored vehicles to ATGM systems.
FY2023. The awardees are then to transition into Phase 4,
Given this observation and its possible implications for
the Prototype Build and Test Phase, in order to build and
armored fighting vehicles in general, what are some of the
test physical prototypes. The Army then intends to select
lessons learned about armored fighting vehicle vulnerability
one vendor for Low-Rate Initial Production near the end of
to ATGMs? Does the Army have plans to incorporate
FY2027.
Ukraine lessons learned into OMFV design? If so, what are
FY2024 OMFV Budgetary Information
some of the potential design changes/new capabilities
planned for incorporation into final OMFV design? What
Table 1. FY2024 OMFV Budget Request
are the potential cost implications associated with any
Total
OMFV design changes/new capabilities?
Total Request
Request
Related CRS Products
Funding Category
($M)
(Qty.)
RDT&E
$996.7
—
CRS Report R45519, The Army’s Optionally Manned
Source: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) Program: Background and Issues
(Comptrol er)/Chief Financial Officer, Program Acquisition Cost by
for Congress, by Andrew Feickert.
Weapon System: United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year
2024 Budget Request, March 2023, p. 3-10.
CRS In Focus IF11876, The Army’s Robotic Combat
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test & Evaluation: $M =
Vehicle (RCV) Program, by Andrew Feickert.
U.S. dollars in mil ions; Qty. = FY2023 procurement quantities.
According to FY2024 Department of Defense (DOD)
budget documents, FY2024 funding:
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
IF12094
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV)
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12094 · VERSION 5 · UPDATED