---
title: "The Army can’t seem to figure out how to replace its aging Bradley fleet"
date: "2020-01-20"
modified: "2020-01-20"
authors:
  - name: "Jared Keller"
    job_title: "Former Managing Editor"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/jaredkeller/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-bradley-fighting-vehicle-replacement-optionally-manned-fighting-vehicle/"
categories:
  - "Analysis"
  - "Army"
  - "Military Branches"
  - "News"
  - "Tech & Tactics"
  - "Vehicles"
---

# The Army can’t seem to figure out how to replace its aging Bradley fleet

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/22571142-4.jpg>)

The Bradley Fighting Vehicle has serviced the United States military for nearly four decades, but the service, try as it might, can't seem to effectively develop a replacement.

The Army has officially cancelled its current solicitation for its Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) replacement for the M2 Bradley, the service [announced](<https://www.army.mil/article/231775/army_decides_to_cancel_current_omfv_solicitation>) on Thursday, in order to "revisit the requirements, acquisition strategy and schedule" before moving forward with prototyping.

The move was [reportedly](<https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/01/16/army-takes-step-back-on-bradley-replacement-prototyping-effort/>)[prompted](<https://www.defenseone.com/business/2020/01/army-cancels-45b-armored-vehicle-contest-drew-one-bid/162504/>) by the fact that the service only received one big, from General Dynamics Land Systems, for its $45 billion OMFV prototyping competition, as Army leaders [told](<https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/01/16/army-takes-step-back-on-bradley-replacement-prototyping-effort/>) Defense News on Thursday.

"Despite an unprecedented number of industry days and engagements, to include a draft request for proposal over the course of nearly two years ... it is clear a combination of requirements and schedule overwhelmed industry's ability to respond within the Army's timeline," Dr. Bruce Jette, assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, [said](<https://www.army.mil/article/231775/army_decides_to_cancel_current_omfv_solicitation>) in a statement.

Despite this, Jette reiterated that the service remains "committed" to developing a prototype under the OMFV program as a major modernization priority.

"We remain committed to the OMFV program as it is our second-highest modernization priority, and the need for this ground combat vehicle capability is real," he [said](<https://www.army.mil/article/231775/army_decides_to_cancel_current_omfv_solicitation>). "It is imperative we get it right for our Soldiers."

The OMFV — [part](<https://www.businessinsider.com/here-are-three-possibilities-for-the-armys-next-gen-combat-vehicle-2018-10>) of Army Futures Command's Next-Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) program — is just the latest attempt to replace the Bradley in an effort that to [span nearly two decades](<https://breakingdefense.com/2016/11/the-long-road-to-armys-next-gen-combat-vehicle/>).

In 1999, the Army adopted the Future Combat Systems (FSC) Manned Ground Vehicles (MGV) program was initiated as part of a broad effort to make the service's legacy forces "lighter, more modular, and — most importantly — more deployable," as the Army [put it ](<https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a472541.pdf>)at the time.

That program was [cancelled](<https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/75541-army-to-terminate-robotic-vehicle-aircraft-programs>) a decade later in 2009 and immediately replaced with the Ground Combat Vehicle program in 2010, which sought to replace the Bradley with the a Ground Combat Infantry Fighting Vehicle before being [cancelled](<https://www.militaryaerospace.com/power/article/16718673/army-asks-bae-systems-and-general-dynamics-to-recycle-gcv-vetronics-for-future-fighting-vehicle>) in 2014 amid rising costs and expanding requirements.

If the OMFV reboot is any indication, the phrase "third time's a charm" clearly does not apply to military.

## Author
Jared Keller is the former managing editor of Task & Purpose. His writing has appeared in Aeon, the Los Angeles Review of Books, the New Republic, Pacific Standard, Smithsonian, and The Washington Post, among other publications.

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