Next year, the American army will choose a new light tank for itself. Yesterday, September 23, the portal janes.com He reported that the Mobile Protected Firepower (MFP) program has entered the "limited user testing" phase.
According to the press service of the US Army, the contractors completed the delivery of 24 prototypes of light tanks at the end of last year. They are currently being tested to determine the advantages and disadvantages of the two finalist models. It is planned to name the winner of the MFP tender in the spring-summer of next year.
Light tank from BAE Systems
Image source: armyrecognition.com
The testing involves an improved version of the M8 Armored Gun System tank and a light tank from General Dynamics. In 1996, the US Department of Defense refused to develop and purchase the M8 tank due to funding cuts. BAE Systems points out that they have significantly updated the combat vehicle, and it meets all the parameters of modern combat. The challenger from General Dynamics is a British AJAX combat vehicle with a new turret from the M1 Abrams tank and a 120-mm XM360 gun.
Light tank from General Dynamics
Image source: flickr.com
According to the US Department of Defense, the US army lacks light and mobile tanks that could accompany infantry on difficult terrain and in urban combat conditions, where the M1 Abrams tank will be too clumsy. That is why the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program was launched. Its result should be a new light tank capable of destroying enemy equipment (including modern tanks), fortifications (concrete pillboxes and other long-term structures) and providing fire support for infantry.
