Griffin
Griffin II Mobile Protected Firepower for U.S. Army circa 2022
TypeArmored fighting vehicle
Place of originUnited States
Production history
DesignerGeneral Dynamics Land Systems
Specifications
Mass27–28 tons (Griffin - TD, based on Ajax configuration[1])
roughly 38 tons (Griffin II[2])
38–50 tons (Griffin III[3])
Main
armament
120mm XM360 gun (for Griffin - TD)
105mm M35 gun (for Griffin II)
50mm XM913 gun (for Griffin III)
Secondary
armament
1 × 0.50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2HB heavy machine gun
1 × 7.62 mm (.308 in) M240B machine gun
Enginediesel
SuspensionHydropneumatic

The General Dynamics Griffin is a series of armored fighting vehicles under development by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) for the United States Army.[4] The Griffin is a derivative of ASCOD family of AFVs, which was also designed by GDLS.[5]

Platform

Griffin Technology Demonstrator

At AUSA 2016 annual meeting, General Dynamics unveiled 120mm Griffin Technology Demonstrator (TD) as a "conversation starter" for the US Army Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program.[6] MPF is a light tracked vehicle intended to provide support of large caliber direct fire for Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The chassis of Griffin I shown at AUSA is from British Scout SV program (now called General Dynamics Ajax), but it only has six road wheels. The welded aluminum turret is armed with 120mm XM360 lightweight gun which was developed by the Army Research, Development and Engineering Center. The XM360 gun was developed as part of the canceled Future Combat Systems (FCS) program.[7]

Griffin II

A Mobile Protected Firepower Griffin II firing its 105 mm caliber M35 cannon during U.S. Army trials

The Griffin II was offered under the Army's Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF). In accordance with the program's caliber requirements, it incorporated a 105 mm M35 tank gun and a redesigned chassis.[8][9][10] In December 2018, GDLS was downselected, along with BAE Systems, to develop prototypes.[11] GDLS presented its first prototype in April 2020.[12] BAE's M8 AGS proposal was disqualified in March 2022.[13]

In June 2022, GDLS won the Mobile Protected Firepower program competition and was awarded a contract worth up to $1.14 billion.[14][15] In June 2023, MPF was officially designated as M10 Booker, named after Staff Sgt. Stevon A. Booker and Pvt. Robert D. Booker.[16]

Griffin III

Griffin III was first unveiled at the Association of the United States Army's 2018 Exposition in Huntsville, Alabama.[17] It was being offered under Army's Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) program with six fully equipped infantry carrying option in the back. This version, while similar in weight to Griffin II, scaled down the main gun from 105mm caliber to the 50 mm XM913 gun system. It is equipped with the IMI Systems’ Iron Fist Active Protection System (APS)[18][19] and AeroVironment’s Switchblade loitering munition system.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to General Dynamics Griffin.

References

  1. ↑ "AUSA 2016 Association of US Army conference defense exhibition Washington DC United States Day 1". YouTube.
  2. ↑ "Army to Buy 500 New "Light Tank" Mobile Protected FirePower Vehicles".
  3. ↑ "General Dynamics Griffin Takes Lead to Replace M2 Bradley: Analysis". 15 October 2018.
  4. ↑ Trevithick, Joseph (8 October 2018). "This Massive Gun Toting Armored Beast Could Replace The Army's Bradley Fighting Vehicles". The Drive. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
  5. ↑ Freedberg, Sydney J. Jr. (9 October 2018). "General Dynamics' Griffin III For US Army Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV)". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
  6. ↑ "General Dynamics Griffin: Don't Call It a Tank (It's Totally a Tank)". 3 October 2016.
  7. ↑ "General Dynamics 'Griffin' Light Tank Concept Combines Three Programs into One". 3 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "Two Light Tank Prototypes Battle for the Future of Army Firepower". 7 March 2021.
  9. ↑ "Tomorrow Talk".
  10. ↑ "AUSA 2018: General Dynamics swoops in with 50mm-equipped Griffin - Shephard Media".
  11. ↑ "U.S. Army awards General Dynamics contract for Mobile Protected Firepower".
  12. ↑ Keller, Jared (24 April 2020). "This could be the Army's next light tank of choice". Task & Purpose. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  13. ↑ "US Army eliminates BAE Systems from 'light tank' competition".
  14. ↑ "The Army Just Selected Its First Light Tank in Decades". 28 June 2022.
  15. ↑ "General Dynamics wins $1.14 billion Mobile Protected Firepower contract". 28 June 2022.
  16. ↑ "Army unveils the M10 Booker, its first new combat vehicle in two decades". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  17. ↑ Releases, DP Press. "General Dynamics Unveils Griffin III Light Tank Technology Demonstrator At AUSA 2018". DefPost. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  18. ↑ Roblin, Sebastien (2018-10-27). "The Army's M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Is Old. What Replaces It Could Be Revolutionary". The National Interest. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  19. ↑ International, Forecast (2018-10-17). "AUSA 2018 Wrap-Up". Defense Security Monitor. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
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