Flash News: US Army’s New M10 Booker Fire Support Tracked Vehicle to Enter Full-Scale Production this year.

According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense acquisition program of combat systems for 2025, the U.S. Army’s Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budget request solidifies the new U.S. Army M10 Booker fire support tracked armored vehicle transition from Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) to Full-Rate Production (FRP), marking a critical step in equipping U.S. army Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs) with a mobile, protected direct-fire capability. The budget request includes funding for the completion of developmental and operational testing, production of the initial FRP lot of 33 vehicles, and continued software maintenance.
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The U.S. Army's M10 Booker combat vehicle on display. Officially christened in April 2024, the Booker provides Infantry Brigade Combat Teams with enhanced mobility, protection, and precision firepower, featuring a 105mm M35 cannon and advanced targeting systems. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

Additionally, the U.S. Army plans to monitor system obsolescence, implement engineering changes as needed, and manage the M10 Booker Technical Data Package (TDP) to ensure long-term sustainment. The fielding of the LRIP vehicles will commence with the first operational unit, known as the First Unit Equipped (FUE), targeted for FY25. This milestone will mark the formal introduction of the M10 Booker into active service, enhancing the combat effectiveness of Infantry Brigade Combat Teams.

The development of the M10 Booker program began in 2018 as part of the Army’s effort to provide Infantry Brigade Combat Teams with a highly mobile, protected direct-fire capability. The platform was developed under the Middle Tier Acquisition Pathway, an approach used to rapidly develop and field new systems by leveraging existing technologies. This streamlined acquisition process allowed the Army to move the M10 Booker from concept to production in just under four years.

On June 24, 2022, the M10 Booker program reached a major milestone when it successfully passed Milestone C, a critical decision point in the Department of Defense’s acquisition process. This approval led to the award of an LRIP contract to General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), enabling limited production to begin and allowing for further evaluation of system performance. During this phase, the Army focused on verifying the platform’s effectiveness, refining production processes, and establishing the industrial base needed for large-scale manufacturing.

In late February 2024, the U.S. Army took delivery of the first production M10 Booker at Anniston Army Depot, marking the transition from prototype testing to initial operational capability. By this point, three production vehicles had been delivered to the Army, signaling steady progress in the LRIP phase.

On April 18, 2024, the U.S. Army formally christened the M10 Booker during a ceremony at Aberdeen Proving Ground, officially introducing the service’s newest combat vehicle. This event highlighted the platform’s importance in modernizing light maneuver forces and providing them with a decisive battlefield advantage.

In the summer of 2025, the U.S. Army plans to field the first operational company of M10 Booker Combat Vehicles to the 82nd Airborne Division, following a series of operational tests and evaluations. This milestone will mark the first time an active-duty unit is fully equipped with the new platform, ensuring its effectiveness in real-world combat scenarios.

The U.S. Army awarded GDLS a contract worth approximately $1.14 billion for the production and delivery of the M10 Booker under the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program. Under this contract, a total of 504 vehicles are planned for procurement, with production ramping up after the successful completion of LRIP. The first full-rate production (FRP) lot will consist of 33 vehicles, with additional units delivered in subsequent years.

The M10 Booker is built on a tracked chassis, ensuring excellent off-road mobility, stability, and maneuverability in restricted terrain and urban environments. It represents the Army’s light tank concept, balancing firepower, protection, and deployability to enhance IBCTs' combat capabilities. The Booker is powered by a high-performance diesel engine, allowing it to reach a top speed of 64 km/h (40 mph) while maintaining extended operational range. Its air-transportability by a C-17 makes it ideal for expeditionary missions, with two vehicles fitting inside a single aircraft.

Armed with a 105mm M35 primary weapon, a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, and a 0.50 caliber M2 commander’s weapon, the M10 Booker provides precision direct-fire support against enemy armor, fortified positions, and dismounted troops. The vehicle features the Abrams primary weapon sight, offering advanced targeting capabilities and high first-round hit probability at long ranges.

Despite its classification as a light combat vehicle, the Booker incorporates modular armor for ballistic and blast protection, increasing survivability against small arms fire, artillery fragments, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Its low-profile design reduces its visual and infrared signature, enhancing battlefield survivability.

With superior mobility, firepower, and survivability, the U.S. Army M10 Booker will allow infantry forces to maneuver at high speed, maintain offensive momentum, and engage threats with precision firepower. As it progresses through operational testing and final preparations for fielding, it remains a benchmark modernization program, demonstrating the Army’s commitment to rapidly delivering enhanced lethality and maneuverability to its combat forces.