Key Points and Summary – After canceling the M10 Booker program due to weight, cost, and logistical issues, the U.S. Army is now left with many of the expensive “light” tanks and must decide their fate.
-Several options are on the table, including transferring them to National Guard units, selling them to foreign allies, or using them to simulate enemy vehicles for training.
-Perhaps the most intriguing proposal, however, comes from two Marine officers.
-They argue the M10 could fill a critical firepower gap in the Corps’ new reconnaissance battalions, despite the Marines having recently divested all their heavy tanks.
What Will The Army Do With The M10 Booker?
The US Army spent well over a billion dollars on a light tank, but terminated the program just as it was slated to enter full-rate production. The program was formerly known as the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program.
The cancellation was announced as part of a broader Army modernization and acquisition reform effort, according to the US Army and Defense News. The decision was driven by concerns about the vehicle’s weight, logistical challenges, and the high cost of the program.
Now, the Army has a tank that was initially designed for airdrop to airborne units.
Still, it is no longer in use due to consistent modifications and the addition of extra features to the vehicle.
The result was the M10 Booker, and despite early optimism, the results left the Army with a light armored vehicle that has become a textbook example of a requirements process badly in need of revamping—one more concerned with checking boxes than actually evaluating the Army’s needs.
The M10 Booker was going to be the first new combat vehicle to enter the force in four decades. It no longer meets the need, as it is too heavy for its intended purpose.
“In response to current world events and in support of the strategic objectives outlined in the Army Transformation Initiative, the U.S. Army has issued a termination for convenience of the current low-rate initial production of the M10 Booker combat vehicle and will not enter into full-rate production as originally planned,” the Army said in a released statement.
Now the question is, what does the Army do with the M10 Bookers it has?
The first batch of the vehicles were delivered. There are several options to consider.
Options To Consider Include Inter-Service Transfer:
The Army’s options include but aren’t limited to: Transfer to Armored Units, or the National Guard, Foreign Sales, Storage (Mothballed), Transfer the M10s to the Marine Corps, or Use it For Training Purposes.
Transfer to Armored or The Army National Guard:
One possible solution is to integrate the M10 Bookers into existing armored or National Guard units.
The M10 possesses many features that could be useful on the battlefield. These Bookers could improve the firepower and protection of units that currently operate lighter vehicles, such as the M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
This integration could enhance the overall combat effectiveness of these units, providing them with additional direct fire support capabilities.
However, the drawback to this possibility is one of the issues plaguing the vehicle. The manufacturer, General Dynamics, is responsible for maintaining these vehicles. That alone would increase the maintenance costs of these “light” tanks.
Foreign Military Sales:
The solution for the US to possibly sell the remaining M10s to foreign allies is interesting. Many countries are seeking to modernize their armored forces, and the M10 Booker could be a compelling option for nations that require a versatile armored vehicle.
Many of our allied or friendly countries don’t need or cannot support a heavy tank like the M1A1 Abrams due to its size and weight.
This would not only recoup some of the costs associated with the program but also strengthen military ties with allied nations.
Transfer The M10s To The Marine Corps:
At first glance, this possible solution seems out of place. The Commandant of the Corps, David Berger, divested the service of its armor units in 2020.
However, two Marine officers, Marine Lt. Col. John Dick and Lt. Col. Daniel D. Phillips, the commanding officer and executive officer, respectively, of the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, wrote an article about how the Marines could utilize the not-so-light tanks the Army didn’t want.
The Marine officers want to incorporate the M10 Bookers into the USMC’s light armored reconnaissance (LAR) battalions. The four light armored reconnaissance battalions are transforming into mobile reconnaissance battalions (MRB).
The Booker would address the firepower and survivability concerns that some in those units have, especially around the Ultra Light Tactical Vehicles, or ULTVs, which are a key component of the MRB.
The Marines currently have a capability gap in survivable, mobile firepower, the officers wrote.
“Its armor, fire control systems, and mobility allow Light Armored Reconnaissance units to survive first contact, dominate key terrain, and provide reconnaissance-in-force capabilities aligned with expeditionary advanced base operations and stand-in force concepts.
“Unlike legacy Light Armored Vehicle platforms, which prioritized mobility over protection, the Booker delivers both lethality and survivability, enabling reconnaissance marines to maneuver under fire, mass effects, and conduct shaping operations forward of the main force.”
However, the adoption of the M10 would result in the Marines needing Air Force support in moving the Bookers around.
Use the M10 Booker as OPFOR:
At Ft. Irwin, NTC – The Army uses Ft. Irwin, California, also known as the National Training Center, to train units to fight in the desert. The 11th Armored Cavalry is the host unit and serves as the base’s “opposing forces” or OPFOR at Ft. Irwin.
The unit uses doctored vehicles to resemble potential enemy vehicles, and the M10s could be used there to simulate OPFOR tanks in training. The manufacturer’s maintenance facilities could be based there, and a good purpose could be found for the M10s.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
More Military
We Almost Touched the F-117 Stealth Fighter
