U.S. Army unveils lean Mobile Brigade Combat Team built for modern warfare.

The U.S. Army is moving toward a new Mobile Brigade Combat Team that cuts brigade manning to about 1,900 troops while packing in more sensors, drones, and precision weapons, according to a new Congressional Research Service note based on Army data. The design is meant to help light infantry survive and win in drone-saturated, electronically contested battles similar to Ukraine, trading sheer numbers for speed, dispersion and precision fires.

The U.S. Army is preparing to replace traditional Infantry Brigade Combat Teams with a lighter, more technically dense Mobile Brigade Combat Team built around mobility vehicles, organic drones and long-range precision strike, according to a December 9 Congressional Research Service note drawing on official Army force design data. The future MBCT trims brigade strength to roughly 1,900 soldiers, less than half the manpower of a current IBCT, while adding layers of small UAS, loitering munitions, electronic warfare, and mobile command nodes designed to maneuver and survive under constant observation and long-range fire.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Soldiers from the 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), start their Infantry Squad Vehicle after a UH-60 Black Hawk drop at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Johnson. (Picture source: US DoD)

The reduction in organizational size is the first major shift. The MBCT will consist of approximately 1,900 soldiers, compared with 4,500 in a traditional Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT). The Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) is the standard infantry brigade designed for sustained operations in low-intensity environments. The new format redistributes essential functions to prioritize mobility, autonomy and the ability to disperse, while retaining a core of fires, logistics, communications, medical support and information advantage. This reduction does not imply a loss of capability; instead, it reflects a technological densification intended to replace mass with speed and precision.

Enhanced tactical mobility relies on the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV), now fielded across every rifle squad. The Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) is a lightweight nine-seat platform able to transport a full squad and its equipment across complex terrain without dependence on established routes. Designed as an expendable platform, it enables rapid maneuver and improves survivability against drones, observers and indirect fires. The report reveals two additional variants in development: the ISV-Utility (ISV-U), which will integrate command modules, energy storage and distribution, electronic warfare, counter-UAS systems, precision-fires payloads and mortar options; and the ISV-Heavy (ISV-H), intended to serve as a brigade-level mobile command platform with a hybrid powertrain producing the electrical output needed for EW systems and tactical networks. This approach turns a light vehicle into a technical node supporting high-intensity operations.

The second pillar of the MBCT concept is the increased density of sensors and effectors across all echelons. Small UAS become organic from squad to battalion, supporting reconnaissance, target acquisition and maneuver. Loitering munitions provide the capability to strike beyond line of sight, enabling dispersed units to engage targets at several kilometers. The document confirms the gradual replacement of the TOW 2B missile by the Mobile Long-Range Precision Strike Missile system, developed to extend anti-armor reach for dispersed elements. This technical layer builds on weapons already present in the squads, including the Javelin missile, effective against armored platforms at extended ranges, and the Carl-Gustaf launcher, suited to fortified positions and tactical obstacles.

The creation of the Multi-Function Reconnaissance Company (MFRC) represents a major organizational innovation. It merges traditional reconnaissance with the Tactical UAS platoon, the EW platoon and an Effects platoon equipped with loitering munitions and anti-armor systems. Teams can be task-organized to support battalions during distributed operations. This integration of sensors, jamming and precision effects within a single company reflects a shift toward light units built around modular technical capabilities.

The report also details the Multi-Purpose Company (MPC), which will replace assault companies in Infantry Battalions. It centralizes mortars, reconnaissance and counter-UAS assets while controlling most of the battalion’s loitering munitions. This consolidation aims to reposition sensors, indirect fires and counter-drone systems quickly, increasing battalion responsiveness in battlefields dominated by aerial observation and precision strike.

The transformation timeline is tied to concrete capability milestones. Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in FY2025 includes MBCTs already equipped with full ISV fleets, organic small UAS and initial quantities of loitering munitions integrated into tactical command structures. FY2026 budget lines allocate more than 300 million dollars for the ISV and 75 million for loitering munitions, reinforcing three technical pillars: mobility platforms, aerial sensor density and organic strike capabilities. As ISV-U and ISV-H variants are fielded, the brigade will gain dedicated vehicles for mobile command, onboard energy generation, EW systems and C2 functions, strengthening tactical networks.

The internal configuration of the MBCT establishes a continuous chain of technical effects from squad to brigade. Sections combine ISV mobility with the engagement capabilities of the Javelin, which can reach armored targets beyond two kilometers, and the Carl-Gustaf, suited for destroying structures or light armor. Small UAS provide observation and fire adjustment. The MFRC adds integrated layers of sensors, jamming and loitering munitions, while the MPC coordinates mortars, reconnaissance and counter-UAS assets. The result is a light but technologically dense brigade able to disperse forces without losing tactical coherence, supported by mobile platforms generating the power required for sensors, data links and precision-strike systems.