The US Department of Defense cancels the M10 Booker light tank program

 

 M10 Booker

The US Department of Defense has decided to cancel the M10 Booker light tank program, which became part of a large-scale defense procurement reform. The decision was officially outlined in a Pentagon memorandum titled "Army Transformation and Procurement Reform," signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on May 1, 2023. The document instructs the army to stop funding several platforms, including the M10 Booker, which was previously considered a key element for enhancing the mobility and firepower of infantry brigades.

The cancellation of the M10 Booker program was the result of a review of the priorities of the American army in the face of a changing geopolitical situation and growing budget constraints. The light tank was developed as a solution to provide mobile protected firepower in infantry brigade combat teams. However, the Pentagon's new strategy focuses on other areas of modernization, including the development of long-range technologies, cybersecurity and autonomous systems.

The memorandum highlights the need to focus resources on platforms that better meet modern warfare requirements. This means abandoning projects that cannot be quickly integrated into the existing structure or do not provide a significant advantage over the enemy.

The decision to cancel the program caused a mixed reaction among military experts and analysts. On the one hand, critics of the program claim that the M10 Booker was too expensive and did not fully meet the needs of the modern battlefield. His relatively light armor and limited firepower could become serious drawbacks in high-intensity conflict conditions.

On the other hand, supporters of the project point out that the cancellation of the program deprives the army of an important link in mobile defense. The light tank could be used for operations in difficult landscapes such as mountainous areas or cities where heavier vehicles such as the M1 Abrams lose their effectiveness.

The abandonment of the M10 Booker may lead to a revision of tactics for the use of armored vehicles in infantry brigades. The U.S. Army will now have to find alternative solutions to compensate for the loss of mobile protected firepower. This may lead to faster development of new platforms or modernization of existing machines.

In addition, the cancellation of the program raises questions about the future of other projects under development. The procurement reform described in the memorandum signals that the Pentagon is willing to sacrifice lower-priority projects for investments in technology that can provide a long-term advantage.

The memorandum "Army Transformation and Procurement Reform" was an important step in rethinking the approach to the development of the US armed forces. Defense Minister Pete Hegseth emphasized that current threats require the army to be more flexible and adaptable. This means abandoning outdated concepts and moving towards innovative solutions such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and precision-guided missiles.

The termination of the M10 Booker program is just one example of how the Pentagon is trying to optimize its costs and focus on the most promising areas. The future of the US Army will depend on how successfully it can integrate new technologies into its structure.

High-tech combat robots to be launched in Britain

 

High-tech combat robots will be created in Britain.

The ARX Robotics plant will produce drones that can be used for reconnaissance, evacuation of the wounded and transportation.

The latest combat robots with artificial intelligence will be produced in the UK for the first time. A leading German manufacturer of military equipment is building a new factory in the south-west of England, where unmanned armored vehicles that can be used on the battlefield will be developed.

ARX Robotics, a defense technology company, He will build a first-of-its-kind factory in the UK for the production of drones that can be used for reconnaissance, evacuation of the wounded and transportation.

They can be controlled using a tablet while away from the battlefield, which reduces the risk to troops, as well as connect them to other vehicles and equipment.

The company's Gereon ground-based drones can carry 500 kg up to 40 km from the operator and operate for 72 hours on a single charge. They have already been deployed by NATO on the eastern flank of the alliance, by the German military and in Ukraine.

According to the company, the new research and production plant will cost 45 million pounds and create 90 jobs over the next two and a half years.

The plant will be able to produce 1,800 ground-based drones per year, as well as modernize existing armored vehicles for autonomous operation, which may be cheaper., than purchasing brand new drones.

The Ministry of Defense (MOD) hopes to triple Britain's combat power with drones, artificial intelligence, and a secret program known as Project Asgard, which officials say "will use new and promising technologies to become more lethal and better able to defeat the enemy.

"The Asgard project is described as a way to use emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, drones and advanced sensors, which "will help to find and process information faster.", as well as hitting enemies on the battlefield.

"ARX ground-based drones have already been field tested by the British Army on the Salisbury Plain in order to adapt them to the specific needs of the UK, although a contract for their purchase has not yet been signed.