The US 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Liberty, North Carolina has begun the initial operational test and evaluation of the M10 Booker armoured fighting vehicle.
The evaluation testing will include training on new equipment for both operators and maintainers, gunnery exercises, collective training sessions for personnel, and force-on-force exercises. The data collected is intended to provide comprehensive reports, which are crucial for making future production decisions within the US Army and validating the requirements and operational concept for the M10 Booker.
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. The first batch of Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) M10s is expected to be delivered later this year and the first unit equipped status is expected in 2025.
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.
