M10 Booker: Get Ready for the US Army’s New ‘Light Tank’

Summary and what you need to know: The U.S. Army is introducing the M10 Booker, formerly known as the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) system, to fill a critical gap in its infantry brigade combat teams (IBCTs).

-The Booker offers direct, mobile, and protected offensive firepower and resembles a light tank, sharing features with the M1A2 Abrams such as a four-person crew and a 360-degree turret.

-At 42 tons, half the weight of an Abrams, it is easier to deploy and reaches a speed of 64 km/h. Equipped with a 105 mm M35 main gun, it offers more firepower than the M2/3 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.

-Deputy Secretary of the Army Doug Bush sees the M10 Booker as crucial to the Army’s transformation to dominate large-scale combat operations.

M10 Booker: The US Army’s New Light Tank Revolutionizes Infantry Units

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the importance of armored vehicles and combat vehicles in modern warfare. These armed combat systems allow troops to transport infantry into battle, break through enemy lines, and provide firepower, making them essential players in any conflict.

The U.S. Army has its eyes set on the M-10 Booker, formerly known as the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) system. According to a Congressional Research Service report updated in May, the new armored vehicle is expected to fill an operational gap in the Army’s infantry units:

“Currently, the Army’s Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT) lack a combat vehicle capable of providing a mobile, protected, direct, offensive fire capability… The MPF solution is an integration of existing mature technologies and components that avoids development that would lengthen the program schedule.”

Although many have referred to the M10 Booker as an armored fighting vehicle, this unique system closely resembles a main battle tank. In fact, some analysts have referred to the Booker as a “light tank,” as it shares many capabilities with the M1A2 Abrams MBT. Both the Abrams and the M10 Booker can carry a crew of four, are fully tracked vehicles, have 360-degree turrets, a large main gun, and other qualities that combine the two systems.

A Brief History of the M10 Booker

The M10 Booker was named in honor of two American soldiers who died in combat. Private Robert D. Booker was killed during the Tunisian Campaign in World War II and received the Medal of Honor. Master Sergeant Stevon Booker was killed during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and received the Distinguished Service Cross.

In 2017, the service first issued a request for proposals for the technical development and manufacturing phase of the armored vehicle.

A year later, BAE Systems Land and Armaments and GDLS were selected by the Army to create pre-production vehicles. Eventually, the Army awarded a massive $1.14 billion contract to GDLS to produce the M10 Booker.

Why does the Army want the M10 Booker?

At approximately forty-two tons, the Booker is about half the size of the Army’s M1 Abrams SEPv3 main battle tank. Because the Booker is smaller, it will be more rapidly deployable. The vehicle’s lower weight will also allow it to reach speeds of up to forty miles per hour and travel up to 350 miles without needing to refuel.

In addition, the future infantry vehicle will be very capable. The M10 Booker is equipped with a 105mm M35 main gun, which is significantly more powerful than the existing M2/3 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, which is equipped with a 25mm cannon. The Booker’s lighter weight, higher speed, and better armament make it an extremely valuable addition to the Army.

U.S. Army Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Doug Bush explained that “the Army is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades to dominate large-scale combat operations in a multidomain environment, and the M10 Booker is a critical part of that transformation,” noting that the Booker could bring an entirely new level of protection and lethality to infantry forces.

About the Author: Maya Carlin, Defense Expert

Maya CarlinNational Security Editor for The National Interest, is an analyst at the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has contributed articles to numerous publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. Follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.

Image credit: Creative Commons.