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1 [1] (March 14, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/goveopn0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Inforrning the legislative debate since 1914 0 Updated March 14, 2024 The Army's M-10 Booker (Formerly Known as Mobile Protected Firepower [MPF]) System What Is the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) System? The Army's MPF system is intended to address an operational shortfall in infantry units: Currently the Army's Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT) do not have a combat vehicle assigned that is capable of providing mobile, protected, direct, offensive fire capability.... The MPF solution is an integration of existing mature technologies and components that avoids development which would lengthen the program schedule. Operationally, the Army wants the MPF to be able to [n]eutralize enemy prepared positions and bunkers and defeat heavy machine guns and armored vehicle threats during offensive operations or when conducting defensive operations against attacking enemies. In terms of the Army's overall procurement plans for MPF, [t]he Army Acquisition Objective (AAO) for MPF is 504 vehicles, with 14 MPFs per IBCT. The targeted fielding for the First Unit Equipped (FUE) is Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. MPF Redesignated as the M-10 Booker On June 14, 2023, the Army announced the redesignation of the MPF as the M-10 Booker infantry assault vehicle. According to the Army: The vehicle platform honors two enlisted Army soldiers who served our nation selflessly during times of great conflict - Medal of Honor recipient Private. Robert D. Booker, who perished in World War II, and Distinguished Service Cross recipient Staff Sergeant Stevon A. Booker, who died from injuries sustained in Operation Iraqi Freedom. M- 10 Acquisition Strategy In November 2017, the Army issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase and, in order to maximize competition, planned to award up to two Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) contracts for the EMD phase in early FY2019. Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) according to the Defense Acquisition University is a rapid acquisition approach that focuses on delivering capability in a period of 2 to 5 years. The authority to use MTA was granted by Congress in Section 804 of the FY2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (P.L. 1 14-92). Programs using MTA are not subject to the joint Capabilities Integration Development System (UCIDS) and provisions of Department of Defense (DOD) Directive 5000.01 Defense Acquisition System. MTA consists of utilizing two acquisition pathways: (I) Rapid Prototyping, which is to streamline the testing and development of prototypes, and (2) Rapid Fielding, which is to upgrade existing systems with already proven technologies. On December 17, 2018, the Army awarded two Section 804 MTA Rapid Prototyping contracts for MPF. The two companies awarded contracts were General Dynamic Land Systems (GDLS), Inc. (Sterling Heights, MI) and BAE Systems Land and Armaments, LP (Sterling Heights, MI). Each MTA Rapid Prototyping contract was not to exceed $376 million. The MTA Rapid Prototyping contracts required delivery of 12 preproduction vehicles (from each vendor) for developmental and operational testing, and a Soldier Vehicle Assessment (SVA). M-0 Program Status The SVA reportedly began in January 2021 at Fort Bragg, NC-without the BAE prototypes because of production challenges-with testing running through June 2021. While BAE was unable to provide prototypes at the beginning of testing, prototypes were eventually provided to the Army for testing. During the assessment, soldiers evaluated GDLS and BAE M-10 prototypes in a variety of operational scenarios. MPF LowIRate Initial Production (LRIP) Contract Awarded On June 28, 2022, the Army announced the award of a $1.14 billion contract to GDLS for the production and fielding of up to 96 M-10 systems (Figure 1). Delivery of the first LRIP M-10 system is expected in 19 months, and Initial Operational Testing and Evaluation is planned for the end of FY2024. The first unit equipped is scheduled for the fourth quarter of FY2025, consisting of a battalion of 42 M- 1Os. Each LRIP M-10 system is expected to cost about $12.8 million. Full-Rate Production M-10 systems are expected to cost less than LRIP variants and may include modifications based on Operational Testing and Evaluation results. Future -10 Fielding The Army's M-10 acquisition objective is for 504 systems, with Army officials reportedly noting that this number