DETROIT — The commander of the first brigade to receive the Army’s new M1E3 Abrams tank and XM30 Infantry Fighting Vehicle said this week what features he’s most eager to test before the systems arrive.
“We are extremely excited about getting the M1E3 and the XM30 for our soldiers,” said Col. Todd Hertling, commander of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division—nicknamed Iron Horse—in an interview Tuesday at the GVSETS conference. “Iron Horse will be involved in rolling out the technology and platforms, and we’re excited about the lethality, survivability, and mobility these systems provide.”
The M1E3 is intended to replace the aging M1A2 Abrams. It is significantly lighter, features a hybrid‑electric engine that cuts fuel requirements by 50 %, and can engage targets “at a quarter mile in about a tenth of a second,” according to former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George.
The tank also incorporates an unmanned turret, which Hertling called a “game changer” because it reduces the crew from four to three, enabling “higher effectiveness and efficiency.”
Its open‑systems architecture lets the tank receive continuous software updates and supports plug‑and‑play integration across platforms.
“This lets us fight on a cloud and connect all our systems, regardless of platform type, giving us greater situational awareness and a transparent battlefield,” Hertling explained.
A 360‑degree situational awareness system further enhances the M1E3’s ability to understand enemy positions at a distance and engage more efficiently.
Brig. Gen. Troy Denomy, program acquisition executive for maneuver ground, reported that General Dynamics‑Land Systems (GDLS) will deliver four M1E3 prototypes to the Iron Horse brigade by year’s end, following earlier plans to receive them in the summer.
Regarding the XM30, slated to replace the Bradley IFV, Hertling highlighted the “increased lethality” from its unmanned turret, open‑systems architecture, and 360‑degree situational awareness.
The Wolf vs the Lynx
GDLS and American Rheinmetall are both scheduled to provide XM30 prototypes this summer. The Army may select a winner by late next spring after both the M1E3 and XM30 have been operated by the Iron Horse brigade in a National Training Center rotation. Brig. Gen. Denomy noted the service is keeping its options open regarding the down‑select timing and resources.
“We have a plan to carry two vendors as long as we possibly can. It becomes a question about resourcing the money, because you’re not paying necessarily double, but you’re kind of paying double,” Denomy said.
His office is evaluating how long two vendors can be sustained in the XM30 program. If no clear winner emerges after the NTC rotation, “then it may be worth not selecting at that point,” Denomy added.
“We’re absolutely trying to keep our options open as long as we can, but money matters,” he said.
GDLS offers the Wolf variant, while American Rheinmetall presents the Lynx variant. Both vehicles meet the Army’s XM30 requirements, featuring a 50 mm cannon (vs. the Bradley’s 25 mm), open‑systems architecture, unmanned turrets, enhanced compute power, exportable power, hybrid‑electric powertrains, loitering‑munition/missile attachment options, and high‑explosive airburst capability.
The Wolf will be equipped with AeroVironment’s Switchblade 300 loitering munition for counter‑drone operations, whereas the Lynx will field Raytheon’s tube‑ or rail‑launched Coyote drone. The Lynx can also incorporate the Javelin missile, according to Jim Schirmer, senior vice president of programs at American Rheinmetall.
GDLS collaborates with about 15 partners, including AV, SAPA, and STC. Rheinmetall’s partners include Anduril, Textron, Allison Transmission, Raytheon, and L3Harris.
Norman said GDLS has delivered its first prototypes to a facility in Lima, Ohio, for government acceptance, with one unit destined for Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) in Maryland and the remaining seven heading to the Iron Horse brigade in Texas around October. Schirmer indicated Rheinmetall will send its vehicles to APG within two weeks.
“I think what we’re going to see with the [X]M30 when it gets fielded is something that elevates our combined arms formations to a new level, giving soldiers capabilities that Bradley couldn’t provide,” Norman concluded.
