M10 Booker - She Dead

Big thanks to everyone in the audience who’ve been updating us on the demise of the M10 Booker program, that is the US Army’s new light tank (that they refuse to call a tank). We’ll have a lot to talk about in the show but we’re just laying out what happened in the hope that some of you in the audience can drop a comment with insights for inclusion in the upcoming show!

Defense One had a good summary of the problems.

• Failed to meet requirement for a parachutable infantry support asset.

• As heavy as a T-72, far too heavy for the bridges at light infantry bases (or in other places light infantry will want to go)

• Gun too small for fighting other tanks

• Air Force load restrictions limit of 1 vehicle per C17, at which point you may as well take a full fat tank on that flight.

• Lacks an APS, or effective counter drone capability

Meanwhile the planned M1A3, which really is a totally new tank from Abrams, is supposed to bring an autoloader, APS, partial autonomy, and a lighter weight (than a current western MBT at least).

This quote stood out:

“So now you have a vehicle that is the best idea of 2013, that has the best technology limitations of 2013—which are really technology limitations of 2000, because you're trying to be backwards-compatible,”

This was then followed with reporting by Breaking Defense of the Trump administration seeked a “comprehensive transformation” of the US Army. Including the demise of the M10.

“An Army official today confirmed that the service will stop producing Humvees and Joint Light Tactical Vehicles. And General Dynamics Land Systems will be told to stop producing its brand new light tank, the M10 Booker”

So what does the light tank of the future look like? Really we’re looking for something CVR(T) like. It has to be small and light enough to fit in a C130 Hercules, and to be deployable via parachute.

Support for infantry in the drone age is going to require it to be an air defence asset as much as a fighting vehicle. Fortunately fast firing high velocity cannons with explosive rounds are very useul in a variety of roles. And does it need the crew to be inside the vehicle at all? Right now the US is messing around with “Optionally Manned” systems, but that’s a bad comproise either which way.

Or should it be something else entirely, avail yourselves of the comment section and share your thoughts!