Wire flash
ConflictAmerican Rheinmetall delivers first Lynx XM30 prototype to replace Bradley Fighting Vehicle
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
American Rheinmetall has delivered the first Lynx XM30 prototype to the U.S. Army, marking a key milestone in the service's multi-year effort to replace the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The company announced the delivery on September 1, 2026, stating that the vehicle will begin testing while seven additional prototypes are scheduled for delivery later this year. The program operates under a roughly $764 million Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract that covers the vehicle's journey from digital design through validation. The Lynx XM30 is designed for modern battlefields increasingly shaped by drones and electronic warfare, featuring modular open architecture for rapid technology integration and a first-of-its-kind hybrid-electric powertrain combining a traditional engine with electric power. Once safety checks are completed, soldiers will conduct combat simulation exercises. The Army plans simultaneous technical testing and troop training with additional prototypes in what American Rheinmetall CEO Matt Warnick called a 'parallel evaluation timeline.' The Army selected American Rheinmetall and General Dynamics Land Systems for the XM30 design phase in 2023. The XM30 is built off Rheinmetall's Lynx KF41 platform and is intended to supersede the Bradley, which entered service in the 1980s.
Source report
American Rheinmetall delivered the first Lynx XM30 prototype to the U.S. Army this week, the company announced in a Tuesday statement. The delivery marks the latest milestone in the service’s yearslong effort to replace the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
The vehicle is scheduled to begin testing, with seven additional prototypes expected for delivery later this year. The evaluation is part of a roughly $764 million Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract, which aims to take the vehicle from digital design through validation.
Key Features
- Battlefield Adaptability: The Lynx XM30 was designed for a battlefield increasingly shaped by drones and electronic warfare.
- Modular Open Architecture: Enables rapid integration of new technology while the vehicle is in service.
- Hybrid-Electric Powertrain: Rheinmetall said the prototype features a first-of-its-kind hybrid-electric powertrain, combining a traditional engine with electric power.
Testing and Evaluation
Once the prototypes clear safety checks, soldiers will put them through combat simulation exercises. The Army plans to conduct technical testing while troops simultaneously train with additional prototypes in what Matt Warnick, American Rheinmetall’s CEO, described as a “parallel evaluation timeline.”
Background
In 2023, the Army selected American Rheinmetall and General Dynamics Land Systems for the XM30 design phase. The prototypes are intended to supersede the Bradley, which entered service in the 1980s. The XM30 model is built on Rheinmetall’s Lynx KF41 platform.
About the Author
Eve Sampson is a reporter and former Army officer. She has covered conflict across the world, writing for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Associated Press.
Source
Military TimesWestern
Part of this Story
American Rheinmetall delivers first Lynx XM30 prototype to U.S. Army to replace Bradley Fighting Vehicle