link to page 2 
Updated March 14, 2024
The Army’s M-10 Booker (Formerly Known as Mobile
Protected Firepower [MPF]) System
What Is the Mobile Protected Firepower
(MPF) System?
Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) according to the Defense
Acquisition University is a rapid acquisition approach that
The Army’s MPF system is intended to address an
focuses on delivering capability in a period of 2 to 5 years. The
operational shortfall in infantry units:
authority to use MTA was granted by Congress in Section 804
Currently the Army’s Infantry Brigade Combat
of the FY2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
Teams (IBCT) do not have a combat vehicle
(P.L. 114-92). Programs using MTA are not subject to the Joint
Capabilities Integration Development System (JCIDS) and
assigned that is capable of providing mobile,
provisions of Department of Defense (DOD) Directive
protected, direct, offensive fire capability.... The
5000.01 “Defense Acquisition System.” MTA consists of
MPF solution is an integration of existing mature
utilizing two acquisition pathways: (1) Rapid Prototyping,
technologies
and
components
that
avoids
which is to streamline the testing and development of
development which would lengthen the program
prototypes, and (2) Rapid Fielding, which is to upgrade existing
schedule.
systems with already proven technologies.
Operationally, the Army wants the MPF to be able to
On December 17, 2018, the Army awarded two Section 804
[n]eutralize enemy prepared positions and bunkers
MTA Rapid Prototyping contracts for MPF. The two
and defeat heavy machine guns and armored
companies awarded contracts were General Dynamic Land
vehicle threats during offensive operations or when
Systems (GDLS), Inc. (Sterling Heights, MI) and BAE
conducting defensive operations against attacking
Systems Land and Armaments, LP (Sterling Heights, MI).
enemies.
Each MTA Rapid Prototyping contract was not to exceed
$376 million. The MTA Rapid Prototyping contracts
In terms of the Army’s overall procurement plans for MPF,
required delivery of 12 preproduction vehicles (from each
[t]he Army Acquisition Objective (AAO) for MPF
vendor) for developmental and operational testing, and a
is 504 vehicles, with 14 MPFs per IBCT. The
Soldier Vehicle Assessment (SVA).
targeted fielding for the First Unit Equipped (FUE)
M-10 Program Status
is Fiscal Year (FY) 2025.
The SVA reportedly began in January 2021 at Fort Bragg,
MPF Redesignated as the M-10 Booker
NC—without the BAE prototypes because of production
On June 14, 2023, the Army announced the redesignation
challenges—with testing running through June 2021. While
of the MPF as the M-10 Booker infantry assault vehicle.
BAE was unable to provide prototypes at the beginning of
According to the Army:
testing, prototypes were eventually provided to the Army
for testing. During the assessment, soldiers evaluated
The vehicle platform honors two enlisted Army
GDLS and BAE M-10 prototypes in a variety of operational
soldiers who served our nation selflessly during
scenarios.
times of great conflict – Medal of Honor recipient
MPF Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Contract
Private. Robert D. Booker, who perished in World
Awarded
War II, and Distinguished Service Cross recipient
On June 28, 2022, the Army announced the award of a
Staff Sergeant Stevon A. Booker, who died from
$1.14 billion contract to GDLS for the production and
injuries sustained in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
fielding of up to 96 M-10 systems (Figure 1). Delivery of
M-10 Acquisition Strategy
the first LRIP M-10 system is expected in 19 months, and
In November 2017, the Army issued a Request for Proposal
Initial Operational Testing and Evaluation is planned for the
(RFP) for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development
end of FY2024. The first unit equipped is scheduled for the
(EMD) phase and, in order to maximize competition,
fourth quarter of FY2025, consisting of a battalion of 42 M-
planned to award up to two Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA)
10s. Each LRIP M-10 system is expected to cost about
contracts for the EMD phase in early FY2019.
$12.8 million. Full-Rate Production M-10 systems are
expected to cost less than LRIP variants and may include
modifications based on Operational Testing and Evaluation
results.
Future M-10 Fielding
The Army’s M-10 acquisition objective is for 504 systems,
with Army officials reportedly noting that this number
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The Army’s M-10 Booker (Formerly Known as Mobile Protected Firepower [MPF]) System
could vary “slightly.” Under current Army plans, four M-10
Source: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
battalions are to be fielded by 2030, with the bulk of the
(Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer, Program Acquisition Cost by
planned acquisition scheduled to be completed by 2035.
Weapon System, United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2025
Budget Request, March 2024, p. 3-8.
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test & Evaluation; $M =
Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) is a programmatic
U.S. dollars in millions; Qty. = FY2025 procurement quantities.
decision made when manufacturing development is completed
and there is an ability to produce a small-quantity set of
According to DOD, FY2025 funds requested for the M-10
articles. It also establishes an initial production base and sets
are intended to
the stage for a gradual increase in the production rate to
allow for Full-Rate Production (FRP) upon completion of
[f]und completion of Booker [M-10] LRIP Phase
Operational Test and Evaluation.
developmental and operational testing, production
Full-Rate Production (FRP) is a decision that allows for
of the initial FRP lot of 33 vehicles, maintenance of
government contracting for economic production quantities
system software, monitoring of potential system
following stabilization of the system design and validation of
obsolescence, engineering changes, management of
the production process.
the Booker Technical Data Package (TDP), and
fielding of LRIP vehicles to the Booker First Unit
Equipped (FUE).
Figure 1. GDLS M-10 Variant
Considerations for Congress
Oversight questions Congress could consider include the
following.
2024 Army Force Structure Transformation and
M-10 Units
Reportedly, the Army is planning to create MPF battalions.
From these battalions, MPF companies would then be
allocated to IBCTs. On February 27, 2024, the Army
announced “changes to its force structure that will
modernize and continue to transform the service to better
Source: General Dynamics, “General Dynamics Land Systems Wins
face future threats.” While the Army mentions the creation
U.S. Army Competition for Mobile Protected Firepower Vehicles,”
of a number of units based on modernization programs, no
June 29, 2022.
mention is made of M-10 units. Considering the M-10 is a
FY2022 Director, Operational Test and
major modernization effort currently procuring systems, it
Evaluation Report
seems inconsistent that the Army would not include M-10
In January 2023, the Department of Defense’s Director,
units in its 2024 Force Structure Transformation White
Operational Test and Evaluation Report (DOT&E) issued
Paper. Given this apparent omission, Congress might seek
its annual report on the previous fiscal year’s test and
clarification with senior Army leadership on the status of
evaluation activities. The report notes the M-10’s progress
M-10 procurement and fielding to units.
toward achieving operational effectiveness is “satisfactory.”
The report also noted, “Developmental testing found the M-
Basing M-10 Units
10 had high levels of toxic fumes when firing the main gun,
There are concerns about suitable storage and maintenance
requiring modifications to crew procedures during firing to
facilities and training ranges for M-10 units assigned to
mitigate the build-up of fumes in the turret.” DOT&E
infantry posts not structured to accommodate armored
recommended the Army “continue implementing system
fighting vehicles. A possible solution might be to station M-
design fixes to reduce the high level of toxic fumes when
10 units at bases better suited to support armor units, but the
firing the main gun.” DOT&E further recommended the
Army reportedly would like to keep M-10 units within at
Army “continue improving the vehicle’s cooling system to
least a six-hour drive from the division they are assigned to.
reduce preventative maintenance checks and services times
Another issue is that there might be related challenges in
required.”
creating M-10 units in the Army National Guard. Given
these M-10 unit-related considerations, Congress might also
FY2025 M-10 Budgetary Information
monitor the Army’s progress in addressing the
aforementioned challenges in creating new M-10 units.
Table 1. FY2025 M-10 Budget Request
Funding
Total Request
Total Request
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
Category
($M)
(Qty.)
IF11859
RDT&E
$48.1
—
Procurement
$460.6
33
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The Army’s M-10 Booker (Formerly Known as Mobile Protected Firepower [MPF]) System
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11859 · VERSION 10 · UPDATED