General Dynamics will start assembling light tanks for U.S. Army in November

The US company General Dynamics Land Systems will begin assembling a light tank for the US Army next month. It is being developed under the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program and will be the first new combat vehicle for the U.S. Army in nearly 40 years.

Here's What We Know

General Dynamics Land Systems was awarded a contract to develop the light tank in the summer of 2022. It will get a new chassis, but the development will not be done from scratch. The company will use existing programs to reduce risk.

Assembly of the first light tanks will begin in November, but the production version of the fighting vehicle will enter the U.S. Army in late fiscal 2023. This was announced by Major General Glenn Dean, head of the Ground Combat Systems Program. Full-scale production will begin in calendar year 2025.

Initially the US army will get 26 light tanks, although the $1.14 billion contract calls for purchasing almost a hundred fighting vehicles. General Dynamics Land Systems plans to upgrade at least 8 (of 12) prototypes before sending them to the troops.

Source: Defense News