The US Army has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems a contract valued at USD 322.7 million to proceed with the low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the M10 Booker Combat Vehicle, which is designed as a new assault vehicle for the Army’s Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs).
“The M10 Booker provides IBCTs with a safe and effective platform to complete their mission – one that may include bunkers, machine guns or armored vehicles,” said Gordon Stein, General Dynamics Land Systems vice president and general manager for U.S. operations. “We are honored to continue to manufacture the M10 Booker Combat Vehicle.”
The US Army took delivery of the first M10 Booker at Anniston Army Depot in Alabama in late February 2024 and the first M10 was christened on 18 April 2024 during a ceremony at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. In July 2024 the US 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Liberty, North Carolina began the initial operational test and evaluation of the M10 Booker armoured fighting vehicle.
The M10 Booker is a light armoured vehicle that provides direct fire support for light infantry and airborne units, designed to fill a gap between the heavy M1 Abrams main battle tank and the wheeled M1126 Stryker armoured fighting vehicle.
Developed by General Dynamics Land Systems, the M10 Booker is designed to be rapidly deployable, transportable by air, and capable of operating in urban and restricted terrain. It weighs about 38 tons and can fit two vehicles on a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, compared to one M1 Abrams tank.
The vehicle is equipped with a M35 105mm main gun with the Abrams primary weapon sight, a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun, and an externally mounted .50 calibre machine gun.
