American Rheinmetall has delivered the first of eight Lynx XM30 combat vehicle prototypes to the U.S. Army, according to a company press release. The milestone advances a program that aims to replace the Army’s aging M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
Testing Begins Immediately
The Army will now put the prototype through developmental and performance testing. This evaluation forms part of a broader Phase 3/4 Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract, worth roughly $764 million. That contract covers digital design, physical prototyping, and full-system validation.
“Delivering our first prototype to the Army is an important step as the XM30 Combat Vehicle program enters a more visible phase,” said Matt Warnick, CEO of American Rheinmetall, in the release.
Seven More Vehicles, Parallel Training
American Rheinmetall will deliver the remaining seven prototypes later this year for operational unit training. The rollout supports the Army’s Transformation in Contact 2.0 initiative, which pushes new technology to units quickly through rapid prototyping and field testing. Soldiers will begin field maneuvers once the vehicles pass initial safety checks, building toward large-scale combat simulations.
A Multi-State Production Chain
Production spans several states. Workers fabricate turrets in Plymouth, Michigan, then ship sub-systems to Slidell, Louisiana, for hull and chassis integration. Vehicles undergo automotive shakeout trials before returning to Louisiana for final finishing. The Defense Contract Management Agency inspects each vehicle before formal government acceptance.
Built for Modern Threats
The Lynx XM30 targets battlefields shaped by drones, precision weapons, and electronic warfare. Its modular, open architecture supports rapid upgrades, and it introduces the platform’s first hybrid-electric powertrain. American Rheinmetall leads Team Lynx as prime contractor, alongside Textron Systems, Raytheon, L3Harris Technologies, Allison Transmission, and Anduril Industries.
Source: American Rheinmetall
