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Key Points and Summary: The U.S. Army’s M10 Booker is a versatile, infantry-support armored vehicle designed for rugged terrain and direct-fire missions.

-Though not officially classified as a light tank, it fills a similar role, offering a 105mm gun and adequate armor to support Infantry Brigade Combat Teams.

-Unlike the heavier M1 Abrams, the 38-ton Booker is more deployable in challenging environments, such as mountainous or urban terrain.

-Drawing lessons from historical light tanks and the ongoing war in Ukraine, the M10 provides the agility and firepower necessary for modern combat scenarios while complementing dismounted infantry in tough-to-access areas.

M10 Booker: The U.S. Army’s New Infantry Support Vehicle Explained

The United States Army’s M10 Booker is a return of sorts for the Army to a more lightly armed and armored vehicle. Intended to support infantry and offer a direct-fire capability over rugged terrain, the M10 combines firepower, mobility, and survivability through high situational awareness.

Not Exactly a Light Tank

“The M10 Booker is an armored vehicle that is intended to support our Infantry Brigade Combat Teams by suppressing and destroying fortifications, gun systems and trench routes, and then secondarily providing protection against enemy armored vehicles,” said Major General Glenn Dean, program executive officer of Army Ground Combat Systems said, pushing against the light tank designation.

In this role, the M10’s 105mm main gun, as well as its adequate amor package, offers a unique blend of protection, firepower, and mobility — but the M10 is not the first light tank-esque vehicle the United States has fielded.

A History of Light Armor

Historically, the United States has experimented with light tank designs that strove to provide a balance between mobility and firepower.

The M24 Chaffee, introduced in World War II, offered good speed and an adequate 75mm gun. Its significant drawback, however, was limited armor that often left it vulnerable to heavier German tanks.

The M10 Booker Combat Vehicle proudly displays its namesake on the gun tube during the Army Birthday Festival at the National Museum of the U.S. Army, June 10, 2023. The M10 Booker Combat Vehicle is named after two American service members: Pvt. Robert D. Booker, who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for actions in World War II, and Staff Sgt. Stevon A. Booker, who posthumously received the Distinguished Service Cross for actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Their stories and actions articulate the Army’s need for the M10 Booker Combat Vehicle, an infantry assault vehicle that will provide protection and lethality to destroy threats like the ones that took the lives of these two Soldiers. (U.S. Army photo by Bernardo Fuller)

The Vietnam War era saw the introduction of the M551 Sheridan, a novel platform armed with a 152mm gun/missile launcher.

Despite its innovation, the Sheridan was significantly hampered by both reliability issues and an inability to effectively combat modern armored threats. Both designs highlighted the inherent trade-offs in light tanks, emphasizing the need for a platform capable of adapting to evolving combat scenarios.

Armored Similarities

The M10 Booker does bear some resemblance to its much larger counterpart, the M1 Abrams, the United States Army’s main battle tank. Both armored vehicles prioritize advanced targeting systems, modern communication tools, and modular armor for adaptability. However, the Booker is significantly lighter, weighing about 38 tons, whereas the M1 tips the scales at 70-plus tons, depending on the variant.

M10 Booker

A live fire demonstration of the Army’s newest and most modernized combat vehicle, the M10 Booker, marks the conclusion of the M10 Booker Dedication Ceremony at Aberdeen Proving Ground, in Aberdeen, Md., April 18, 2024. (U.S. Army photo by Christopher Kaufmann)

The M10 Booker’s reduced weight gives it a strategic and tactical mobility edge over the M1, as it is more easily air-transportable — and therefore deployable — in remote and austere environments where the Abrams might struggle to deploy. The M10’s 105mm rifled gun is less powerful than the M1’s 120mm smoothbore main gun and offers significantly less firepower and penetrating power compared to the larger M1 main gun.

However, for the role it is intended for, as an infantry support vehicle not meant to go toe-to-toe with heavier main battle tanks, it is sufficient for engaging lightly armored vehicles, fortified positions, and infantry formations.

In its intended role — in support of infantry via direct-fire support — it is designed to excel. In urban warfare environments or on steeper, mountainous, or jungle terrain, the M10 has an edge over the larger M1 Abrams.

The War in Ukraine

The war in Ukraine has highlighted the role that lighter armored vehicles still play on the modern battlefield. In a reconnaissance role or other roles where large armored vehicles would be more vulnerable, the M10 could play a significant role thanks to its agility and enhanced situational awareness.

The M10 Booker Combat Vehicle proudly displays its namesake on the gun tube during the Army Birthday Festival at the National Museum of the U.S. Army, June 10, 2023. The M10 Booker Combat Vehicle is named after two American service members: Pvt. Robert D. Booker, who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for actions in World War II, and Staff Sgt. Stevon A. Booker, who posthumously received the Distinguished Service Cross for actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Their stories and actions articulate the Army’s need for the M10 Booker Combat Vehicle, an infantry assault vehicle that will provide protection and lethality to destroy threats like the ones that took the lives of these two Soldiers. (U.S. Army photo by Bernardo Fuller)

M10 Booker: A Good Move or Not? 

Within the United States Army, the M10 Booker will serve with Infantry Brigade Combat Teams. By pairing with dismounted infantry, the M10 will offer a quickly deployable, adequately protected, and decently armed armored infantry support vehicle to rapidly project firepower in environments that would be difficult for the M1 Abrams to access.

About the Author: Caleb Larson 

Caleb Larson is an American multiformat journalist based in Berlin, Germany. His work covers the intersection of conflict and society, focusing on American foreign policy and European security. He has reported from Germany, Russia, and the United States. Most recently, he covered the war in Ukraine, reporting extensively on the war’s shifting battle lines from Donbas and writing on the war’s civilian and humanitarian toll. Previously, he worked as a Defense Reporter for POLITICO Europe. You can follow his latest work on X.