The defense industry website Breaking Defense reports that the U.S. Army is asking for industry input on the development of the replacement for its M1 Abrams tank, known as the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV).
OMFV: Army Seeks Industry Advice On Bradley Replacement: Having rebooted the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle program, the Army is now is asking industry input on how to achieve nine goals, from survivability to mobility to streamlined logistics
[ . . . ] “Feedback may be submitted in any form (concepts, information papers, technical papers, sketches, etc.),” says the announcement on SAM.gov. “The Army would like to obtain this initial feedback prior to 06 March 2020.” [ . . . ]
Background: The OMFV, as part of an Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT), will replace the Bradley to provide the capabilities required to defeat a future near-peer competitor’s force. The Army is seeking a transformational increase in warfighting capability, not simply another incremental improvement over the current Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
Concept of employment: As part of an ABCT, the OMFV will not fight alone, but rather as part of a section, platoon, and company of mechanized infantry. [ . . . ]
One of the key areas of the call for input is of direct interest to the ISTVS community — mobility:
“Army M1 Abrams tank with a trial installation of the Israeli-made Trophy Active Protection System (APS)”
Mobility. The OMFV must have mobility that can keep pace with the Abrams in a combined arms fight through rural and urban terrain.
That’s the M1 Abrams main battle tank, which the existing M2 Bradley and M109 Paladin howitzer were also designed to keep up with. [ . . . ]
link » Breaking Defense