For the U.S. Army’s next Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), which will replace the famed Bradley, American Rheinmetall and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) have reached a major milestone. Both firms have finished preliminary design reviews for their contenders, marking notable progress in the XM30 program. The Army plans to replace around 3,800 Bradleys, in service since the 1980s, under the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) initiative. The hybrid new vehicles will deliver superior lethality and advanced sensors, while reducing crew size and improving protection and flexibility. Development contracts are worth about $1.6 billion, with the total program projected at $45 billion.
