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Designed as an armored infantry support vehicle rather than a battle tank, the M10 Booker is on top of US Army’s modernization priorities, with plans to acquire 500 units for the role.
In a bid to ensure combat readiness in challenging weather conditions, the United States Army is conducting extreme cold temperature testing on the M10 Booker armored infantry support vehicle at Fort Greely in Alaska. The information was made public by Peter George, the product manager of the Booker combat vehicle, through a post on social media.
The US Army is also increasing its Arctic operations to improve readiness in extreme conditions. Training exercises like Arctic Forge 25 will involve 330 US Soldiers from the 11th Airborne and 10th Mountain Divisions, along with 40 Canadian soldiers and 500 Finnish personnel. Additionally, 110 Soldiers from the 41st Field Artillery Brigade will be deployed to Norway to test long-range precision fire in Arctic conditions.
New challenges and opportunities in Arctic military operations
The Arctic region’s extreme cold, low precipitation, and widespread permafrost pose operational challenges, requiring specialized equipment and training. Hence, the US military’s focus on Arctic operations also boosts homeland defense by improving early warning systems and rapid response capabilities against potential northern hemisphere threats.
Designed as an armored infantry support vehicle rather than a battle tank, the M10 Booker is on top of US Army’s modernization priorities. The military plans to acquire over 500 units for this role. The M10 Booker was first tested as a prototype in 2020, with US Army Yuma Proving Ground’s Jade Janis serving as the test officer for the selected entrant.
According to Janis, the M10 Booker is a lightweight infantry vehicle similar in weight to a Bradley, but with a larger weapon. “The intent is to be able to rapidly deploy them with an infantry combat brigade: you should be able to fit two of them in a C-17,” Janis explains.
The M10 Booker also offers direct fire support for Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs) against fortified positions and light armored threats. Weighing between 38 and 42 tonnes, it is classified as an armored infantry support vehicle or assault gun, rather than a light tank, as it lacks the armor and firepower needed for direct engagement with enemy main battle tanks.
M10 Booker to play key role in Army’s shift to division-centric operations
In June 2022, the M10 Booker was selected as part of the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program. The first production units were delivered in February 2024. The Army plans to acquire the units under a contract potentially worth $1.14 billion, with each M10 Booker estimated to cost around $13.95 million.
The M10 Booker is powered by an MTU 8V199 TE23 diesel engine, delivering 800 horsepower, marking the first use of an MTU serial production engine in a US Army land system in over 40 years. The engine is part of the PowerPack system, which includes transmission, cooling, and filtration components designed to support performance in various terrains, including Arctic conditions.
The vehicle is equipped with a 105mm M35 tank gun, a 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun, and a 7.62mm M240B machine gun, making it ideal for infantry support. Unlike the M2 Bradley, which is better for mechanized infantry with its troop capacity and missile armament, the M10 Booker offers superior direct-fire capabilities. It has a top speed of 64 km/h, a range of 560 km, and modular armor for protection.
The M10 Booker features an advanced fire control system from the M1A2 Abrams, along with a hydropneumatic suspension and high-tech optics to improve targeting and situational awareness, capabilities that can prove invaluable for the US Army in complex and dynamic combat environments.
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