The US Army's ambition to own a tank that fits on a transport plane

The US Army wanted a light tank with heavy firepower that could be deployed by aircraft to support infantry.

A proposed design for the MPF project. Photo: US Army.

Concerned about the rapid development and modernization of the Russian and Chinese armies, the US Army is pushing to develop its first completely new tank in 40 years. The new vehicle needs to be lightweight and heavily armed, ensuring the ability to deploy from transport aircraft and paratrooper units, according to the Daily Beast.

The new light tank, called the “Mobility Firepower Vehicle” (MPF), will require the manufacturer to meet the requirements of the US Army. If the armor is too thick or the weapon is too heavy, the mass of the vehicle will exceed the ability to be transported by air. Conversely, if the armor is too thin or the firepower is too weak, it will not survive on the battlefield against modern anti-tank weapons.

The Chinese military is beginning to field high-tech light tanks, while Russia has fielded BMD variants for its airborne forces for decades. The U.S. Army has tried to buy new armored fighting vehicles several times, but most have failed to meet specifications or gone over budget and been canceled.

The US retired all its aging light tanks in the 1990s without offering a replacement. Today, US paratroopers and scouts rely on shoulder-fired anti-tank missiles to deal with enemy armor.

However, as tanks and armored vehicles become more and more protected, American infantry will face more and more difficulties in combat without the support of light tanks. MPF is considered the answer, with the ability to deploy from transport aircraft on makeshift runways, helping to provide fire support for paratroopers landing.

Meanwhile, scout infantry can use light tanks to penetrate enemy defenses from a distance. “Adding MPFs to an infantry brigade will enhance their intelligence gathering capabilities,” said Army Major Scott Pence.

"This new light tank is not capable of confronting the opponent's main battle tanks, but will be deployed with infantry to eliminate bunkers in offensive operations," said David Dopp, MPF project director.

Major General David Bassett,Deputy Director of the US Army Weapons Project (GCS), said the MPF project will utilize existing components and production lines, instead of developing from scratch. The MPF can be equipped with a 120mm smoothbore gun like the M1 Abrams tank or a 105mm gun like the Stryker wheeled vehicle, allowing to shorten development time by up to three years.

The MPF project is expected to begin mass production in 2021. However, Washington needs to avoid making the same mistake as before, when two army combat vehicle development projects were canceled due to excessive cost overruns, military expert David Axe warned.

According to VNE