The U.S. Army pulls back the curtain on an impressive new combat vehicle for the first time in two decades. The M10 Booker, a high-powered armored vehicle, promises a leap forward in battle capabilities, making it a game-changer on the battlefield.
As a hobby photographer, I judge most military equipment by how they look first, and then I read the technical data. The M10 Booker looks good ! https://t.co/Xu0bzhM2OT pic.twitter.com/TEmyMhyPxO
— Junsupreme (@RyszardJonski) June 16, 2023
In a recent gathering at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, marking the 248th anniversary of the U.S. Army, the M10 Booker Combat Vehicle was introduced to the world. This new vehicle, previously referred to as the “Mobile Protected Firepower,” now bears the names of two heroic soldiers who sacrificed their lives in wars six decades apart.
The U.S. Army this week revealed a new armored combat vehicle that will provide ground forces with "a new level of lethality" and protection, it was reported. https://t.co/94T6zXMBft
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) June 20, 2023
Pvt. Robert D. Book, a brave infantryman who lost his life in World War II, and Staff Sgt. Stevon A. Booker, a tank crewman who fell in the Iraq War in 2003, was posthumously honored. “The sacrifices of these two soldiers perfectly encapsulate the very reason for the M10 Booker Combat Vehicle’s existence,” says Doug Bush, a U.S. Army acquisition official.
The M10 Booker, according to Bush, provides ground forces with powerful offensive capabilities and better protection on the battlefield. Although it shares many features with the M1 Abrams main battle tank, the M10 Booker isn’t classified as a tank for various undisclosed reasons.
General Dynamics, the company behind the M10 Booker, designed it specifically for the U.S. Army’s Infantry Brigade Combat Teams. The vehicle operates with a four-member crew, a 105-millimeter direct-fire cannon, and a modern diesel engine for superior performance. It’s lighter and more cost-effective than the M1 Abrams tank, although it can’t be air-dropped. However, each C-17 Globemaster transport plane can carry two Bookers.
Even though the M10 Booker prototype initially faced challenges such as cooling system issues and toxic fumes, Maj. Gen. Glenn Dean, the program executive officer, confirms that these problems have been fully addressed.
With the first M10 Bookers scheduled to be delivered to the U.S. Army in November and operational tests planned for 2024, the future of battlefield dominance looks promising. This powerhouse will surely be a key player in the military’s next chapter.
