Army cuts planned OMFV prototype deliveries

The Army has reduced the number of vehicles that each company will have to produce in the prototype phase of the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle competition, to a maximum of 11, in a last-minute update to the draft request for proposals for the program's next phases.

An update to the draft RFP for the detailed design and prototyping phases of the competition will require a base of seven prototype deliveries, with options for up to four more, according to a July 17 Army notice.

Previously, the service had said all three companies in the detailed design and prototype phases would build 12 prototypes. The final version RFP is expected to come out by the end of the month.

Five companies are participating in the current concept design phase of the OMFV program, which aims to replace the Bradley Fighting Vehicle in armored brigades. Three companies will be chosen for the detailed design and prototyping phases after a full and open competition, which will begin once the final RFP is released.

Development costs will surge as the prototyping phase begins, according to Army budget documents. OMFV spending will hit $560 million under the service’s fiscal year 2023 budget request, and it could increase to $1.2 billion for FY-24.

A down-select to a single manufacturer is scheduled for FY-27, and serial production would begin in the following years.