$320m Order For M10 Booker Combat Vehicle

The U.S. Army has approved a continued limited production run for General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) to deliver more of its M10 Booker "light tank" combat vehicles.

The armoured fighting vehicle is being developed American defence giant after it won the contract for the U.S. Army's Mobile Protected Firepower programme in the summer of 2022.

Its design and looks have led to the M10 Booker being dubbed a "light tank" in the media, though this classification has been eschewed by both the manufacturers and those seeking to acquire it. It is due to come into service in the autumn of 2026.

The initial Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract was for 96 vehicles, the first of which were delivered in February this year. As per a recent GDLS press statement, the U.S. Department of Defence has now issued a $322.7 million contract for the continuance of this LRIP run. The eventual value of the full contract has been put at north of $1.1 billion.

Holding a four-man crew and wielding large-calibre cannon mounted on a turret, according to GDLS the M10 Booker has been designed to rapidly traverse a range of terrains while providing those inside enhanced battlefield protection. The vehicle has a thermal imaging system and has been designed to accommodate bolt-on modular upgrades as and when they become available.

Gordon Stein, GDLS vice president, commented: “The M10 Booker provides... [soldiers] with a safe and effective platform to complete their mission – one that may include bunkers, machine guns or armored vehicles."

The M10 Booker is named after two American service members: Pvt. Robert D. Booker, who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions in World War II, and Staff Sgt. Stevon A. Booker, who posthumously received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

You can read more about the vehicle on the GDLS website