Breaking News: U.S. Army plans initial production of new XM30 infantry fighting vehicle to replace Bradley in late 2027.

According to information released in the June 2025 report by the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO), the U.S. Army’s XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle program is set to complete its critical design review and transition to the development start between April and June 2025, with low-rate initial production planned between October and December 2027. The XM30, envisioned as the next-generation solution to replace the aging U.S. Army Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle, is being developed to provide unmatched firepower, superior mobility, and advanced protection capabilities, all within a modular and future-proofed design.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

In October 2022, during the AUSA exhibition in Washington, D.C., German company Rheinmetall presented a concept model of the XM30 based on its Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle platform. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

Currently engaged in Phases 3 and 4 of its five-phase roadmap, covering detailed design and prototype build/testing, the U.S. Army XM30 program is utilizing the Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) rapid prototyping model. Two competing vendors are constructing full-scale physical prototypes, supported by an independent software development effort tailored for rapid updates and integration. The U.S. Army expects to complete this prototyping phase between April and June 2025. Following this, a single contractor will be selected for low-rate initial production, scheduled for October to December 2027.

The two defense contractors selected for this high-stakes competition are General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) and American Rheinmetall Vehicles (ARV). GDLS is offering the Griffin III Infantry Fighting Vehicle, derived from the ASCOD 2 platform, focusing on modular design, enhanced protection, and a powerful armament suite. Meanwhile, ARV leads the Team Lynx consortium, which includes Textron Systems, Raytheon Technologies, L3Harris Technologies, Allison Transmission, and Anduril Industries. Their solution is based on the Lynx KF41 platform, customized to meet XM30’s requirements with cutting-edge digital engineering and modular open system architecture.

The future XM30 tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)  is designed with an advanced lethality profile, including a 50mm automatic cannon that surpasses the Bradley’s current 25mm armament in both range and destructive capability. It will also be equipped with next-generation anti-tank guided missiles and fully digital fire control systems. These systems are expected to support precision engagement and joint targeting interoperability, aligning with the U.S. Navy’s broader vision for multi-domain combat effectiveness. The Navy’s role in defining joint capability requirements ensures that the XM30 supports operations alongside air and maritime forces in distributed and amphibious combat scenarios.

In terms of mobility, the XM30 is being developed with hybrid-electric propulsion to reduce its acoustic and thermal signatures, improve fuel efficiency, and enable agile maneuvering across difficult terrain. This aligns with U.S. Navy and Marine Corps demands for expeditionary vehicles capable of rapid deployment and movement in contested littoral zones. The vehicle’s suspension and traction systems are being engineered to handle diverse environments, from dense urban battlefields to rugged, off-road operations.

Protection is another cornerstone of the XM30’s design philosophy. The vehicle will integrate a modular armor system to adapt to varying threat levels and mission types. Active protection systems, potentially including advanced solutions such as Trophy or StrikeShield, will provide defensive countermeasures against incoming projectiles and missiles. Furthermore, it will feature full CBRN defense, electronic warfare protection, and cyber-resilience to ensure survivability against a range of threats in high-intensity conflicts.

The urgency behind replacing the U.S. Army Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle with the XM30 stems from critical operational limitations of the legacy platform. The Bradley, which entered service in the 1980s, is no longer capable of accommodating modern technologies such as modular open system architectures, high-powered electronics, or advanced situational awareness sensors. Its aging drivetrain and conventional power systems cannot support future energy-intensive systems like hybrid-electric propulsion or electronic warfare tools. Survivability is another area where the Bradley falls short, lacking the structural design to host active protection systems or provide adequate protection against top-attack munitions and modern anti-tank guided missiles. In contrast, the XM30 is built from the ground up to address these deficiencies, ensuring it can operate effectively in high-threat, multi-domain environments and remain adaptable to technological advancements for decades to come.

Despite this progress, the GAO report warns that identifying the XM30’s critical technologies as late as Q3 FY2025 carries significant risk. Should any technologies prove immature or incompatible, the need for redesigns could delay the program’s transition to the Major Capability Acquisition (MCA) phase. However, the Army maintains that the current phased approach and dual-path prototyping strategy will allow for sufficient testing and refinement to mitigate these risks before full-scale production.

The XM30 stands as a centerpiece of the U.S. Army’s Next-Generation Combat Vehicle portfolio, representing a strategic shift in how mechanized forces will operate across future battlefields. As joint integration becomes the standard across services, the XM30 is being shaped not only by Army needs but also by Navy and Marine Corps operational demands, ensuring its relevance in a full-spectrum, multi-domain force structure prepared for the challenges of 2030 and beyond.