BAE starting to deliver MPF prototypes

BAE Systems will deliver its first prototype this week for the Mobile Protected Firepower platform, the Army's new light tank, a company spokeswoman said Dec. 16.

"We will deliver a test platform within the week," Amanda Niswonger wrote in an email. "In coordination with the Army we have aligned our delivery schedule to support [the soldier vehicle assessment] and get this vehicle into soldiers' hands for evaluation."

General Dynamics Land Systems, BAE's competitor for the Mobile Protected Firepower program, is ahead in delivering prototypes. General Dynamics will deliver the last of its 12 prototypes for the Army's new light tank by the end of December, the company announced Dec. 15.

The General Dynamics deliveries have remained on track since a company spokesman said in October that they would be complete by the end of the year.

"Our MPF offering is a highly lethal, mobile and survivable direct-fire combat vehicle that can dominate ground threats on the multidomain battlefield," said Don Kotchman, vice president and general manager of General Dynamics Land Systems, in the announcement. "We are pleased to be able to deliver this capability to the U.S. Army, despite the global pandemic."

The Army announced last week that a soldier vehicle assessment, to test the Mobile Protected Firepower prototypes, will begin on Jan. 4 at Ft. Bragg, NC. BAE and General Dynamics will each provide 12 vehicles for testing.