The US Army received its first M10 Booker armored fighting vehicle during a handover ceremony at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.
The production model will be enrolled in an operational test with the 82nd Airborne Division for the next several months, followed by the fielding of the first operational company of M10 Booker vehicles by the summer of 2025.
Additionally, the M10 will undergo testing over the next two years to ensure it meets the force’s standards. Reliability and maintainability drills for firing and mobility will be included in the assessment.
“We will also put the vehicle through production qualification and testing in desert, arctic, temperate and tropical conditions, challenging it with obstacles like gaps and walls to scale, and engaging it with real word threats to ensure its survivability,” US Army Ground Combat Systems program executive officer Major General Glenn Dean said.
First unveiled in 2023 during the army’s 248th anniversary celebration in Virginia, the vehicle is set to take on the role of an assault gun, bolstering the Infantry Brigade Combat Teams’ light maneuver forces.
The M10 Booker
Produced by General Dynamics Land Systems, the M10 Booker is an assault gun with the appearance of a light tank.
Its 105 mm main direct-fire cannon is supported by a 12.7 mm M2HB heavy machine gun and a 7.62 mm M240B machine gun.
It has an operational range of up to 350 miles (560 kilometers) and can reach a maximum speed of 45 miles (72 kilometers) per hour.
General Dynamics’ $258-million low-rate initial production for the vehicle is scheduled for completion by October 2025.
