Defense News: U.S. Army to release new tender for OMFV program next month

 

U.S. Army to release new tender for OMFV program next month

The Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle program is seeking to replace the Army’s Bradley Fighting Vehicles   

By Eyal Boguslavsky, Israel Defense, 11/26/2020

https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/46744

A Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Photo: Cpl. Alisha Grezlik/115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

The U.S. Army announced that it plans to publish next month a new solicitation for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) program. According to Brig. Gen. Ross Coffman, director of the Next Generation Combat Vehicles Cross-Functional Team, the competitive request for proposal (RFP) is expected to be released on or around December 18.

Defpost.com reported that the new request is slated to ask for concept designs of the OMFV that will transform the way infantry soldiers and maneuver formations fight on a battlefield. Up to five contracts will be awarded in June as part of that effort, followed by a second competitive RFP for a detailed design about a year and a half later. The Army plans to field the OMFV to both active and National Guard armored brigade combat teams starting in fiscal year 2028. About $4.6 billion is currently invested in the program for fiscal years 2020-2026. 

Current  model Bradley's 

The OMFV program is seeking to replace the U.S. Army’s Bradley Fighting Vehicles. The program is part of the larger Next Generation Combat Vehicles (NGCV) program. Other programs under the NGCV are the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle, or AMPV; Mobile Protected Firepower, or MPF; future robotic combat vehicles, or RCV; and the next-generation main battle tank. The NGCV-OMFV will be designed to maneuver soldiers in the future operating environment to a position of advantage to engage in close combat and deliver decisive lethality during the execution of combined arms maneuver. The NGCV must exceed current capabilities while overmatching similar threat class systems.

According to the Army, the vehicle must have the following capabilities:

• Optionally manned - It must have the ability to conduct remotely controlled operations while the crew is off platform.

• Capacity - It should eventually operate with no more than two crewmembers and possess sufficient volume under armor to carry at least six Soldiers.

The newest  Bradley M2A4 version with the IAI  Iron Fist light active protective system 

• Transportability - Two OMFVs should be transportable by one C-17 aircraft and be ready for combat within 15 minutes.

• Dense urban terrain operations and mobility - Platforms should include the ability to super elevate weapons and simultaneously engage threats using main gun and an independent weapons system.

• Protection - It must possess requisite protection to survive on the contemporary and future battlefield.

• Growth - It will possess sufficient size, weight, architecture, power, and cooling for automotive and electrical purposes to meet all platform needs and allow for pre-planned product improvements.

Finally! The Army begins testing new Bradley fighting vehicle, weapons of the world, Oct 30, 2020

• Lethality - It should apply immediate, precise and decisively lethal extended range medium caliber, directed energy, and missile fires in day/night all-weather conditions, while moving and/or stationary against moving and/or stationary targets. The platform should allow for mounted, dismount, and unmanned system target handover.

• Embedded Platform Training - It should have embedded training systems that have interoperability with the Synthetic Training Environment.

• Sustainability - Industry should demonstrate innovations that achieve breakthroughs in power generation and management to achieve increased operational range and fuel efficiency; increased silent watch, part and component reliability, and significantly reduced sustainment burden.

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