General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) has delivered its XM30 Wolf Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle (MICV) prototype to the US Army at Aberdeen Proving Ground, initiating government testing for the Bradley replacement program.
The XM30 Wolf is competing with Rheinmetall’s Lynx XM30 in a program previously estimated at around $45 billion to replace thousands of M2/M3 Bradley vehicles. According to US Army budget documents, the service plans to procure 326 XM30s between fiscal years 2027 and 2031, including 108 vehicles in fiscal year 2031.
Both XM30 designs are expected to undergo major operational testing at the National Training Center in spring 2027, alongside M1E3 Abrams prototypes.
The XM30 Wolf is a further evolution of GDLS’s Griffin III technology demonstrator, which was derived from the ASCOD 2 infantry fighting vehicle. The Lynx XM30, meanwhile, leverages Rheinmetall’s Lynx KF41 as the starting point for a US-specific design.
“This on-time delivery will allow Soldiers to start putting the Wolf through its paces, with the ultimate goal of getting it fielded into armored brigades as quickly as possible,” director of strategy at General Dynamics Land Systems Geoff Norman said.
“I would like to congratulate our XM30 team on the successful design and production of this game-changing solution. The Wolf is the most technologically advanced combat vehicle ever assembled,” he added.
XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle
The XM30 is required to provide improved lethality, survivability, mobility, and upgradeability over the Bradley, which entered US Army service in 1981.
Key features include a 50mm cannon, offering a significant increase in firepower over the Bradley’s 25mm M242, advanced sensors and fire-control systems, active protection and modular armor, and a two-person crew with capacity for six infantry soldiers.
Its modular open-system architecture will enable the integration of new technologies as they mature while supporting manned-unmanned operations. The vehicle will also feature a hybrid-electric powertrain designed to improve energy efficiency and provide power for onboard systems.
Both designs are being configured to carry additional precision-strike weapons. AeroVironment’s Switchblade 300 loitering munition has been integrated onto GDLS’s Wolf, while American Rheinmetall’s Lynx can be equipped with the Raytheon Multi-Mission Launcher, which can fire TOW and Javelin anti-tank guided missiles as well as the Coyote Block 3 loitering munition.