US army revamps: Modernized armor, enhanced mobility
The Pentagon plans to modernize the armoured and mechanized units of the US Army. Some armoured brigades will be transformed into light infantry units. The remaining brigades can anticipate a major hardware upgrade involving new tanks and infantry fighting vehicles as part of the M1E3 and XM30 programs.
The proposed changes to the US Army's structure, advocated by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, are detailed by Defence 24. These reforms aim to significantly increase the Army's use of drones, enhance unit mobility, and ensure the ability to target deep within enemy formations.
The Defence Secretary supports retiring older weapon models like the AH-64D and the widespread adoption of ISVs (Infantry Squad Vehicles). The ISVs are intended to replace both older Humvees and the recently introduced JLTVs, which were initially meant to replace the Humvees.
The production and partial deployment of these vehicles will be halted in favour of introducing lighter, more easily air-transportable ISVs. The M10 Booker light tank (fire support vehicle), whose testing began in 2024 and has already consumed $7 billion (9.6 billion CAD), is also set for modernization.
Changes will also affect the Army's structure; certain National Guard armoured brigades are set to be converted into light infantry units capable of rapid air deployment. This transformation aims to bolster the US's capability for quick action, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.
Alongside the reduction in the number of armoured brigades, the remaining units will be outfitted with new armaments, including M1E3 tanks and armoured vehicles selected from the XM30 program.
New equipment for the US Army
The first name, which is likely to be changed to M1A3 once the vehicle is introduced into service, refers to a new tank model. Although the program is formally a modernization of the Abrams tank, the M1E3 is, in practice, a vehicle with a different design, featuring an unmanned turret and a crew located in the hull.
The XM30 is a futuristic infantry fighting vehicle intended to replace the M2 Bradley vehicles used since the 1980s. The selection process for the design that will establish the core of American mechanized forces in the upcoming years is nearing completion. Competing for this contract are two designs: the KF41 Lynx by Rheinmetall and the Griffin III from General Dynamics, which is an upgrade of the ASCOD infantry fighting vehicle.
