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Updated November 29, 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
Heights, MI). The total award value for both
Army-defined and -owned open standard. As technology
contracts is approximately $1.6 billion.
and software evolve, MOSA could potentially facilitate
rapid OMFV modernization at a reduced cost. The open
The Army further noted:
architecture of the OMFV could also offer more
Following the detailed design and prototype build
opportunities for industry competition and innovations as
and testing phases, the Army intends to have a
the OMFV is upgraded.
limited competition to down select to one vendor at
The Army is conducting a five-phase acquisition approach
Milestone C near the end of FY2027, with first unit
to design, prototype, test, and produce the OMFV:
equipped anticipated in FY2029.
• Phase 1 consists of Market Research and
FY2024 OMFV Budgetary Information
Requirement Development.
Table 1. FY2024 OMFV Budget Request
• Phase 2, the Concept Design Phase, includes modeling,
Total
simulation, and analysis (MS&A) to inform
Total Request
Request
requirements and support initial design activities.
Funding Category
($M)
(Qty.)
• Phase 3, the Detailed Design Phase, includes detailed
RDT&E
$996.7
—
design activities to mature OMFV designs and
Source: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
concludes with a Critical Design Review (CDR). A
(Comptrol er)/Chief Financial Officer, Program Acquisition Cost by
CDR is a technical review to ensure the initial product
Weapon System: United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year
baseline is established. Successful completion of CDR
2024 Budget Request, March 2023, p. 3-10.
provides the technical basis for proceeding into
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test & Evaluation: $M =
fabrication, integration, development, test, and
U.S. dollars in mil ions; Qty. = FY2024 procurement quantities.
evaluation of a system.
•
The House Armed Services Committee, in its report on the
Phase 4, the Prototype Build and Test Phase, verifies
FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
prototype performance against performance
(H.R. 2670) recommended a $120.9 million decrease for
specifications. Late in this phase, a Limited User Test
“OMFV slow expenditure.” The Senate Armed Services
(LUT) is to be conducted.
Committee, in its report on the FY2024 National Defense
• Phase 5, the Production and Fielding Phase, is to
Authorization Act (NDAA) (S. 2226), recommended
result in a single Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP)
approving the Army’s OMFV RDT&E funding request.
contract for production, testing, and initial fielding.
The House Appropriations Committee, in its report on the
Program Activities
FY2024 DOD Appropriations Act (H.R. 4365),
recommended approving the Army’s OMFV RDT&E
Phase 2 Contracts Awarded
funding request. The Senate Appropriations Committee, in
The Army announced the award of five firm-fixed price
its report on the FY2024 DOD Appropriations Act (S.
contracts for OMFV Phase 2 Concept Design Phase using
2587), recommended a $410.2 million decrease for
“contract savings.”
full and open competitive procedures on July 23, 2021. The
contracts were awarded to Point Blank Enterprises, Inc.
Potential Issues for Congress
(Miami Lakes, FL); Oshkosh Defense, LLC (Oshkosh, WI);
BAE Systems Land and Armaments L.P. (Sterling Heights,
The Army’s Plans for OMFV Fielding
MI); General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc. (Sterling
The Army currently has 11 Active ABCTs and 5 Army
Heights, MI); and American Rheinmetall Vehicles, LLC
National Guard ABCTs. There are around 150 M-2 Bradley
(Sterling Heights, MI). The total award value for all five
IFVs in each ABCT, for a total of 2,400 M-2s dedicated to
contracts was approximately $299.4 million. During this
ABCTs. Potential issues include the following:
phase, competing firms were asked to develop digital
•
designs. On November 1, 2022, it was reported that all five
Will OMFVs replace ABCT M-2s on a one-for-one
firms had submitted their OMFV digital designs prior to the
basis? If not, how many OMFVs are planned for each
November 1 deadline. All five proposals reportedly were
ABCT?
hybrid electric vehicles.
• How many additional OMFVs will be required over and
above those fielded to ABCTs? How many OMFVs will
Phase 3 and 4 Contracts Awarded
be required for Army Prepositioned Stocks?
On June 26, 2023, the Army announced:
• In the past, the Army has fielded new systems as a
The award of two firm-fixed price contracts for the
brigade set. How many ABCTs per year are planned to
Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle Phase 3 and 4
be equipped with OMFVs?
Detailed Design and Prototype Build and Testing
Lessons Learned from the Ukraine Conflict
phases, using full and open competitive procedures.
There are a number of military observations emerging from
The contracts were awarded to General Dynamics
the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Reports suggest the Russians
Land Systems Inc. (Sterling Heights, MI) and
have lost significant numbers of armored vehicles to anti-
American Rheinmetall Vehicles LLC (Sterling
tank guided missiles (ATGM) and unmanned aerial systems
(UAS). What are some of the lessons learned about armored
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The Army’s XM-30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle (Formerly Known as the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle
[OMFV])
fighting vehicle vulnerability to these systems? Does the
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
Army have plans to incorporate Ukraine lessons learned
into OMFV design?
IF12094
Disclaimer
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Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12094 · VERSION 8 · UPDATED