Future U.S. Army Infantry Fighting Vehicle XM30 Designed to Survive Modern Battlefields.

The U.S. Army’s XM30 Infantry Fighting Vehicle is emerging as the service’s next-generation replacement for the aging M2 Bradley. Designed to endure drone swarms, top-attack munitions, and digital-age warfare, the XM30 signals a leap in how mechanized forces will fight and survive.

Washington D.C., United States, October 20, 2025 - The U.S. Army is moving forward with its XM30 Infantry Fighting Vehicle program, a clean-sheet design that breaks from decades of incremental upgrades to the M2 Bradley. Developed under the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle initiative, the XM30 is intended to thrive on battlefields defined by electronic warfare, autonomous systems, and near-peer threats. Army acquisition officials describe it as a networked, modular vehicle capable of operating with or without a crew, integrating seamlessly with the Army’s future command and control architecture.
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The American Rheinmetall Vehicles Lynx KF41 (left) and General Dynamics Land Systems Griffin III (right), the two competing prototypes selected by the U.S. Army for the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle program, aimed at replacing the legacy M2 Bradley in frontline mechanized units. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

Developed under the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle portfolio, the XM30 is engineered to give Armored Brigade Combat Teams a decisive edge with modular design, hybrid-electric propulsion, advanced sensor integration, and superior lethality. It is not just a new vehicle; it is a transformational shift in how the U.S. Army conceives of armored infantry warfare.

As of October 20, 2025, the XM30 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) U.S. Army program is well into the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase following a Milestone B decision taken in June 2025. This critical approval moved the project from the design phase into the physical prototyping stage. Both General Dynamics Land Systems and American Rheinmetall Vehicles are currently constructing full-scale prototypes, scheduled for delivery to the U.S. Army in early 2026. Evaluation and trials will inform the final selection process, with a low-rate initial production decision expected by late 2027.

The U.S. Army has established clear threshold requirements across three core areas: mobility, armament, and protection. These define the technological foundation of the XM30 and represent a fundamental leap beyond what the M2 Bradley is capable of delivering.

Mobility

The XM30 must outperform the M2A4 Bradley in terms of both tactical and operational mobility. It will be equipped with a hybrid-electric propulsion system to enable silent mobility, rapid acceleration, and expanded onboard power generation. This is essential for powering advanced sensors, communications equipment, and future energy-based weapon systems. Air transportability remains a hard requirement, with two XM30s needing to fit inside a single C-17 aircraft. The Army also demands superior cross-country performance, improved power-to-weight ratio, and better endurance in austere environments.

Armament

The XM30 will feature a remote-operated turret integrating a 30mm autocannon with growth potential to the XM913 50mm chain gun. This firepower upgrade is paired with a coaxial machine gun and integrated launchers for precision-guided anti-tank missiles. The vehicle must also support advanced fire control systems, laser rangefinders, day and night targeting sensors, and artificial intelligence-enabled targeting support. These features are essential for engaging enemy IFVs, personnel, and drones across complex environments while minimizing exposure of the crew to hostile fire.

Protection

The XM30 is expected to deliver a dramatic improvement in survivability over the Bradley IFV. The vehicle must feature modular passive armor, underbody blast protection, and advanced Active Protection Systems capable of intercepting rocket-propelled grenades and guided missiles. Crew and dismount safety against IEDs and top-attack munitions is a top priority. The XM30 must also integrate full-spectrum countermeasures against UAV threats, along with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear protection and onboard fire suppression systems.

Each vehicle will carry a crew of two, a driver and a commander, and transport at least six to nine fully equipped infantry soldiers. The interior layout is being designed to allow rapid dismounting under fire, while also supporting long-duration missions with integrated situational awareness and mission planning tools.

The two current competitors bring distinct approaches to the program. General Dynamics Land Systems has proposed a Griffin III-based design that draws on ASCOD chassis heritage and technologies proven during the U.S. Army’s Mobile Protected Firepower program. American Rheinmetall Vehicles, in partnership with Raytheon and Textron Systems, is adapting its Lynx KF41 platform to meet U.S. requirements, emphasizing modularity, digital architecture, and soldier-centric design.

Both teams received a combined 1.6 billion dollars in prototype development contracts from the U.S. Army in 2023 and are under close scrutiny as testing timelines tighten. Industry insiders report that vehicle integration and power management systems are being closely examined by Army officials ahead of the upcoming field trials.

One of the most important ground vehicle programs for the U.S. Army

The XM30 is not just a new armored vehicle. It is one of the most strategically significant ground combat programs currently underway in the U.S. defense apparatus. For more than 40 years, the M2 Bradley has served as the backbone of U.S. mechanized infantry operations. While it has undergone dozens of upgrades, its core structure can no longer support the technological requirements of modern warfare. Its limitations in protection, digital integration, power generation, and internal volume have become more acute as threats evolve.

The replacement of the Bradley is not a routine fleet modernization. It is a critical force transformation aimed at enabling multi-domain operations against near-peer adversaries like Russia and China. The XM30 must integrate seamlessly with joint and allied forces, support advanced communications and command networks, and defeat a new class of threats including loitering munitions, top-attack ATGMs, and swarm drones.

The U.S. Army’s vision for the XM30 is clear. It must deliver decisive overmatch in lethality, mobility, and protection, while remaining flexible enough to adapt over decades of service life. Its open architecture and digital backbone are designed for continuous upgrade, ensuring the platform remains relevant through 2040 and beyond.

With rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific and continued pressure to deter Russian aggression in Europe, Army leaders are treating the XM30 as a keystone modernization priority. It directly addresses operational gaps identified over two decades of combat deployments and prepares U.S. armored forces for high-intensity warfare against peer adversaries.

For Army Recognition readers, the future XM30 IFV for U.S. Army offers a rare window into the future of U.S. ground combat doctrine. Beyond its industrial significance, the technologies being tested, from hybrid-electric propulsion to AI-enabled targeting, are likely to influence armored vehicle design and procurement strategies across NATO for the next generation.

As the prototypes near delivery and the evaluation phase begins, the XM30 stands at the center of a historic transition in American land warfare. Its success could redefine what it means to fight and win in the 21st-century battlespace.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.