Key Step in Modernizing the Bradley Fleet
American Rheinmetall and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) have received approval to advance into the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase for their respective designs of a new combat vehicle intended to replace the aging M2 Bradley fighting vehicle. This milestone signals a significant step forward in the Army’s efforts to modernize its infantry mobility platforms.
Decision Comes After Critical Design Reviews
The Army made the formal decision to proceed with Milestone B last Wednesday, following successful evaluations of the companies’ respective designs. Industry sources and an Army official confirmed that both GDLS and Rheinmetall had completed their critical design reviews, which had been delayed from late 2024 to ensure thorough assessments.
A service spokesperson told Breaking Defense in April that the Milestone B approval would allow both contractors to finalize detailed design reviews before the official milestone decision. The Army emphasized that the program continues to stay on schedule and meet key development milestones.
Historical Context: Multiple Attempts to Replace the Bradley
This is the Army’s fourth reset at developing a Bradley successor. Previous efforts under programs like Future Combat Systems and Ground Combat Vehicle were ultimately abandoned due to technical or scheduling challenges. The initial Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) competition launched in 2018 was canceled in 2020 when no suitable candidate met requirements.
The current effort, now designated XM30, features a more flexible and slower development schedule with revised parameters focusing on design versatility. Rheinmetall and GDLS are the two contenders competing in this latest iteration.
Next Steps: Prototypes and Deployment Timeline
Under the Army’s current plan, both firms will produce seven identical prototypes for testing. If all proceeds as planned, the Army aims to select a winning design by 2027, with the first soldiers receiving the new vehicles around 2029. This timeline reflects the Army’s cautious approach after multiple development setbacks but signals a clear commitment to replacing the Bradley fleet with a modern, capable platform.
