How else are we going to kill Russians?
Pentagon Wars 2.0
I wonder if they did a vaporifics test on it?
whyilovetexas111 wrote: “Maybe we don’t even need tanks anymore?”
If this is a shift towards a high peer conflict then that implies more need for heavy vehicles like tanks.
With people inside them, they are basically coffins waiting to be destroyed by drones or guided missiles.
Hire some kids in Nevada to control them remotely and they could be a more effective weapon and since there would be no need to make them habitable, cost savings could be made and their range could be vastly improved.
There is arguably still no better tank out there and it's hard to improve on the M1 with a new clean sheet design.
Upgrading M1 systems at overhaul still makes a lot more sense.
For those unfamiliar with military euphemisms, from our robot Overlord:
High-intensity peer conflict refers to severe disagreements or disputes between individuals, often characterized by strong emotions and aggressive behaviors. This type of conflict can disrupt relationships and environments, making resolution challenging without effective communication and conflict management strategies. I am learning humor from you meatbags.
IOW, social work.
The growth of drone warfare has made heavy tanks into coffins. Both team Russia and team Ukraine have found this out. So this requires some new thinking about armor.
The Bradley seems to be still popular, because of its speed and ability to get in and out quickly, and its crew survivability when hit. But heavier tanks are more and more held back from the line because they are just targets for drones. At least that’s how it looks to my untrained eyes.
Named for “Spartacus” Booker?
An Army spokesperson said the service will not stop low-rate production abruptly. “There are a number of M10 Bookers currently in final stages of production that will be accepted by the Army,” the spokesperson said in a statement to Defense News.
The Army has 26 Booker production vehicles on hand, the spokesperson said. “The final number of M10 Bookers will be determined once those that are in final stages of completion are accepted by the Army.”
The governemt already has 26 and will buy whatever they have already started building.
The original concept was a light tank that could be air dropped.
As time went on and they kept adding desired capabilities to the tank it became a medium tank that was too heavy to be air dropped.
Air drop was a mission critical criteria so end the program.
The Army had the right system in the 1990’s. The M8 Armored Gun System was cancelled before production because the Cold War ended. The Army also turned it down two other times. Instead they got a now obsoleted Stryker variant and the Booker.
The M10 was a tank destroyer in WW2.
Original Army doctrine states that the primary mission of armor is to defeat enemy armor. That mission is being fulfilled in Ukraine with drones. Much cheaper and safer than tanks shooting at other tanks while being targeted by enemy drones. Tanks could still be useful under conditions of air supremacy, but drone warfare makes that virtually unachievable..
I was on the BAE Systems team developing the TRACER/Future Scout vehicle.
As a former Armored Cavalryman, after listening to the members from BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics pushing their pet products, I asked one question…”What is the mission of the cavalryman?” Blank stares followed by rants that it needed the Apache Longbow Radar (LM) the 40mm automatic cannon and turret (BAE) and the electronics of the M! Abrams Tank (GD).
The design was immediately over weight, dangerously vulnerable and given these young troops a weapon that told them to go out and look for a fight. When I tried to explain the problems, they told me to write a position paper…which was translated into, “Go away kid! Ya bother me!”
It seems that the M10, like the Future Scout was a mouse designed by a committee that fed on peanuts (An elephant).
This happens when generals design things when they get kick backs from the contractors.
I worked on a fighter jet project 11 years ago that was side to replace the A10s. It was a great plane, cheap, fast, adaptable. Then the generals got involved and it went to crap. The project was scrapped soon after.