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Updated March 12, 2024
The Army’s XM-30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle
(Formerly Known as the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle
[OMFV])
Background
The XM-30 Combat Vehicle (previously OMFV),
The Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV)
as part of an Armored Brigade Combat Team
is being designed to replace the M-2 Bradley Infantry
(ABCT), will replace the Bradley Infantry Fighting
Fighting Vehicle (IFV) (see Figure 1 for a notional
Vehicle to provide the capabilities required to
example). Optionally manned means the OMFV is to have
defeat a future near-peer competitor's force. The
the capability to conduct remotely controlled operations
XM-30 is an optionally manned platform that
while a crew is not in the vehicle. The M-2 Bradley, which
maneuvers soldiers to a point of positional
has been in service since 1981, transports infantry on the
advantage to engage in close combat and deliver
battlefield, provides fire support to dismounted troops, and
decisive lethality during the execution of combined
can destroy enemy fighting vehicles. Updated numerous
arms maneuver. It is designed to operate with and
times since its introduction, the M-2 Bradley is widely
may operate without a crew and soldiers under
considered to have reached the technological limits of its
armor based on the commander's decision. It
capacity to accommodate new electronics, armor, and
defensive systems. Two past efforts to replace the M-2
delivers decisive lethality during the execution of
Bradley—the Future Combat System (FCS) Program and
combined arms maneuver while also controlling
the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) Program—were
maneuver robotics and semi-autonomous systems
cancelled for programmatic and cost-associated reasons.
XM-30 Acquisition Approach
Figure 1. Notional Example—OMFV
The XM-30 is currently a Middle Tier Acquisition Rapid
Prototyping (MTA-RP) program. The XM-30 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 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.
Source: U.S. Naval Institute (USNI), https://news.usni.org/2021/12/
• Phase 2, the Concept Design Phase, includes modeling,
30/report-to-congress-on-armys-optional y manned-fighting-vehicle,
simulation, and analysis (MS&A) to inform
accessed April 18, 2022.
requirements and support initial design activities.
Note: This is a notional example; the Army’s OMFV selected for
production may differ from this example.
• Phase 3, the Detailed Design Phase, includes detailed
OMFV Redesignated XM-30 Mechanized
design activities to mature XM-30 designs and
Infantry Combat Vehicle
concludes with a Critical Design Review (CDR). A
CDR is a technical review to ensure the initial product
On June 26, 2023, upon the completion of the initial digital
baseline is established. Successful completion of CDR
design phase, the Army redesignated the OMFV as the XM-
provides the technical basis for proceeding into
30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle.
fabrication, integration, development, test, and
Role of the XM-30
evaluation of a system.
According to the 2024 Department of Defense (DOD) FY
• Phase 4, the Prototype Build and Test Phase, verifies
2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapons Systems,
prototype performance against performance
specifications. Late in this phase, a Limited User Test
(LUT) is to be conducted.
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The Army’s XM-30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle (Formerly Known as the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle
[OMFV])
• Phase 5, the Production and Fielding Phase, is to
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test & Evaluation: $M =
result in a single Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP)
U.S. dollars in mil ions; Qty. = FY2025 procurement quantities.
contract for production, testing, and initial fielding.
The Army’s FY2025
Program Activities
XM-30 budget request
Funds the fully digital, detailed prototype vehicle
Phase 2 Contracts Awarded
designs from Preliminary Design Review (PDR)
The Army announced the award of five firm-fixed price
through to the Critical Design Review (CDR) in
contracts for XM-30 Phase 2 Concept Design Phase using
preparation for the prototype builds and testing
full and open competitive procedures on July 23, 2021. The
portion of Phase 3&4 in the program’s
contracts were awarded to Point Blank Enterprises, Inc.
development.
(Miami Lakes, FL); Oshkosh Defense, LLC (Oshkosh, WI);
BAE Systems Land and Armaments L.P. (Sterling Heights,
Potential Issues for Congress
MI); General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc. (Sterling
The Army’s Plans for XM-30 Fielding
Heights, MI); and American Rheinmetall Vehicles, LLC
(Sterling Heights, MI). The total award value for all five
The Army currently has 11 Active ABCTs and 5 Army
contracts was approximately $299.4 million. During this
National Guard ABCTs. There are around 150 M-2 Bradley
phase, competing firms were asked to develop digital
IFVs in each ABCT, for an approximate total of 2,400 M-2s
designs. On November 1, 2022, it was reported that all five
dedicated to ABCTs. Potential issues include the following:
firms had submitted their XM-30 digital designs prior to the
• On February 27, 2024, the Army announced “changes to
November 1 deadline. All five proposals reportedly were
its force structure that will modernize and continue to
hybrid electric vehicles.
transform the service to better face future threats.”
Under the Army’s plan, will there be reductions in
Phase 3 and 4 Contracts Awarded
ABCT force structure and, if so, how will these changes
On June 26, 2023, the Army announced
affect current planned XM-30 acquisition quantities?
The award of two firm-fixed price contracts for the
• Will XM-30s replace ABCT M-2s on a one-for-one
Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle [XM-30]
basis? If not, how many XM-30s are planned for each
Phase 3 and 4 Detailed Design and Prototype Build
ABCT?
and Testing phases, using full and open competitive
procedures. The contracts were awarded to General
• How many additional XM-30s will be required over and
Dynamics Land Systems Inc. (Sterling Heights, MI)
above those fielded to ABCTs? How many XM-30s will
and American Rheinmetall Vehicles LLC (Sterling
be required for Army Prepositioned Stocks?
Heights, MI). The total award value for both
• Is the XM-30 a potential candidate for Foreign Military
contracts is approximately $1.6 billion.
Sales (FMS), and have other countries expressed an
interest in the program?
FY2025 Program Update
According to the Department of Defense (DOD) FY 2025
• In the past, the Army has fielded new systems as a
Program Acquisition Costs by Weapons Systems,
brigade set. How many ABCTs per year are planned to
be equipped with XM-30s, and when does the Army
The Army anticipates transitioning from an MTA-
anticipate that all ABCTs will be equipped with XM-
RP to a Major Capability Acquisition Pathway at
30s?
Milestone B in the 2nd quarter of Fiscal Year (FY)
Lessons Learned from the Ukraine Conflict
2025 and plans to enter Low-Rate Initial Production
(LRIP) in the 1st quarter FY 2028 with a Full Rate
There are a number of military observations emerging from
the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Reports suggest the Russians
Production (FRP) decision slated for FY 2030.
have lost significant numbers of armored vehicles to anti-
FY2025 XM-30 Budgetary Information
tank guided missiles (ATGM) and unmanned aerial systems
Table 1. FY2025 XM-30 Budget Request
(UAS). What are some of the lessons learned about armored
fighting vehicle vulnerability to these systems? Does the
Total
Army have plans to incorporate Ukraine lessons learned
Total Request
Request
into XM-30 design?
Funding Category
($M)
(Qty.)
RDT&E
$504.8
—
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
Source: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
IF12094
(Comptrol er)/Chief Financial Officer, Program Acquisition Cost by
Weapon System: United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year
2025 Budget Request, March 2024, p. 3-11.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The Army’s XM-30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle (Formerly Known as the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle
[OMFV])
Disclaimer
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12094 · VERSION 10 · UPDATED