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Updated June 27, 2023
The Army’s XM-30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle
(Formerly Known as the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle
[OMFV])
Background
Note: CRS Reports and Future References to OMFV
The Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV)
Until the Army adopts the XM-30 designation in official
is being designed to replace the M-2 Bradley Infantry
documents transmitted to Congress and replaces references
Fighting Vehicle (IFV) (see Figure 1 for a notional
to OMFV, CRS wil continue to use OMFV in reports for
example). Optionally manned means the OMFV is to have
historical purposes and to avoid confusion.
the capability to conduct remotely controlled operations
Role of the OMFV
while a crew is not in the vehicle. The M-2 Bradley, which
has been in service since 1981, transports infantry on the
According to OMFV Program Information released by the
battlefield, provides fire support to dismounted troops, and
Army on February 28, 2022:
can destroy enemy fighting vehicles. Updated numerous
The Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV)
times since its introduction, the M-2 Bradley is widely
will serve as the Army’s Infantry Fighting Vehicle
considered to have reached the technological limits of its
(IFV) tasked to maneuver through the enemy’s
capacity to accommodate new electronics, armor, and
security zone as part of a combined arms team for
defensive systems. Two past efforts to replace the M-2
the purpose of creating an advantageous position,
Bradley—the Future Combat System (FCS) Program and
relative to the enemy, and providing protection and
the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) Program—were
direct fire lethality while manned or remotely
cancelled for programmatic and cost-associated reasons.
operated. In the close fight, the OMFV enables the
Figure 1. Notional Example—OMFV
ability of dismounted elements to maneuver by
detecting and destroying targets at a range beyond
the enemy’s capability.
OMFV Capabilities
The Army notes four planned OMFV capabilities:
• Enable command and control at the platoon level and
higher by rapidly generating, receiving, and passing
information to dismounted elements, other vehicles, and
command nodes.
• Detect, engage, and destroy enemy infantry fighting
vehicles beyond the range of the enemy’s primary
weapon system, and rapidly defeat dismounted enemy
infantry threats. The OMFV would also enhance unit-
level lethality by providing target acquisition data,
shared situational understanding, and the lethal effects
Source: U.S. Naval Institute (USNI), https://news.usni.org/2021/12/
required to protect and orient friendly dismounted
30/report-to-congress-on-armys-optional y manned-fighting-vehicle,
infantry.
accessed April 18, 2022.
Note: This is a notional example; the Army’s OMFV selected for
• Improve organizational effectiveness by reducing the
production may differ from this example.
logistics burden on the Armored Brigade Combat Team
OMFV Redesignated XM-30 Mechanized
(ABCT) through enhanced reliability and on-board
Infantry Combat Vehicle
diagnostics and prognostics; ease of maintenance; and
reduced burdens on the supply chain in terms of spare
On June 26, 2023, upon the completion of the initial digital
parts, fuel, and munitions.
design phase, the Army redesignated the OMFV as the XM-
30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle.
• 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
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The Army’s XM-30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle (Formerly Known as the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle
[OMFV])
Open Systems Architected (MOSA) platform based on an
Phase 3 and 4 Contracts Awarded
Army-defined and -owned open standard. As technology
On June 26, 2023, the Army announced:
and software evolve, MOSA could potentially facilitate
rapid OMFV modernization at a reduced cost. The open
The award of two firm-fixed price contracts for the
architecture of the OMFV could also offer more
Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle Phase 3 and 4
opportunities for industry competition and innovations as
Detailed Design and Prototype Build and Testing
the OMFV is upgraded.
phases, using full and open competitive procedures.
The Army is conducting a five-phase acquisition approach
The contracts were awarded to General Dynamics
to design, prototype, test, and produce the OMFV:
Land Systems Inc. (Sterling Heights, MI) and
•
American Rheinmetall Vehicles LLC (Sterling
Phase 1 consists of Market Research and
Heights, MI). The total award value for both
Requirement Development.
contracts is approximately $1.6 billion.
• Phase 2, the Concept Design Phase, includes modeling, The Army further noted:
simulation, and analysis (MS&A) to inform
requirements and support initial design activities.
Following the detailed design and prototype build
•
and testing phases, the Army intends to have a
Phase 3, the Detailed Design Phase, includes detailed
limited competition to down select to one vendor at
design activities to mature OMFV designs and
Milestone C near the end of FY2027, with first unit
concludes with a Critical Design Review (CDR). A
equipped anticipated in FY2029.
CDR is a technical review to ensure the initial product
baseline is established. Successful completion of CDR
FY2024 OMFV Budgetary Information
provides the technical basis for proceeding into
Table 1. FY2024 OMFV Budget Request
fabrication, integration, development, test, and
evaluation of a system.
Total
•
Total Request
Request
Phase 4, the Prototype Build and Test Phase, verifies
Funding Category
($M)
(Qty.)
prototype performance against performance
RDT&E
$996.7
—
specifications. Late in this phase, a Limited User Test
(LUT) is to be conducted.
Source: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
•
(Comptrol er)/Chief Financial Officer, Program Acquisition Cost by
Phase 5, the Production and Fielding Phase, is to
Weapon System: United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year
result in a single Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP)
2024 Budget Request, March 2023, p. 3-10.
contract for production, testing, and initial fielding.
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test & Evaluation: $M =
Program Activities
U.S. dollars in mil ions; Qty. = FY2024 procurement quantities.
Phase Two Contracts Awarded
Potential Issues for Congress
The Army announced the award of five firm-fixed price
The Army’s Plans for OMFV Fielding
contracts for OMFV Phase 2 Concept Design Phase using
The Army has, at present, 11 Active ABCTs and 5 Army
full and open competitive procedures on July 23, 2021. The
National Guard ABCTs. There are around 150 M-2 Bradley
contracts were awarded to Point Blank Enterprises, Inc.
IFVs in each ABCT, for a total of 2,400 M-2s dedicated to
(Miami Lakes, FL); Oshkosh Defense, LLC (Oshkosh, WI);
ABCTs.
BAE Systems Land and Armaments L.P. (Sterling Heights,
MI); General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc. (Sterling
• Will OMFVs replace M-2s in ABCTS on a one-for-one
Heights, MI); and American Rheinmetall Vehicles, LLC
basis? If not, how many OMFVs are planned for each
(Sterling Heights, MI). The total award value for all five
ABCT?
contracts was approximately $299.4 million. During this
•
phase, competing firms were asked to develop digital
How many additional OMFVs will be required over and
designs. On November 1, 2022, it was reported that all five
above those needed for ABCTs? How many OMFVs
firms had submitted their OMFV digital designs prior to the
will be required for Army Prepositioned Stocks?
November 1 deadline. All five proposals reportedly were
• In the past, the Army has fielded new systems as a
hybrid electric vehicles. It is not known if other companies
brigade set. Does the Army intend to field OMFVs as a
submitted OMFV digital designs by the November 1, 2022
brigade set? If so, how many ABCTs per year are
deadline.
planned to be equipped with OMFVs?
Planned Future Acquisition Phases
Lessons Learned from the Ukraine Conflict
Upon successful completion of the Concept Design Phase,
There are a number of military observations emerging from
the Army intends to have another full and open competition
the current Ukraine conflict. Reports suggest the Russians
for Phase 3, the Detailed Design Phase, and plans called for
have lost significant numbers of armored vehicles to anti-
an award of up to three contracts in the second quarter of
tank guided missiles (ATGM) systems. What are some of
FY2023. The awardees are then to transition into Phase 4,
the lessons learned about armored fighting vehicle
the Prototype Build and Test Phase, in order to build and
vulnerability to ATGMs? Does the Army have plans to
test physical prototypes. The Army then intends to select
incorporate Ukraine lessons learned into OMFV design?
one vendor for Low-Rate Initial Production near the end of
FY2027.
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The Army’s XM-30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle (Formerly Known as the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle
[OMFV])
IF12094
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12094 · VERSION 6 · UPDATED