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ConflictAmerican Rheinmetall delivers first Lynx XM30 prototype to replace Bradley Fighting Vehicle
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American Rheinmetall has delivered the first Lynx XM30 prototype to the U.S. Army, marking a key step 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 design through validation. The Lynx XM30 features a hybrid-electric powertrain, modular open architecture for rapid technology integration, and is designed for battlefields shaped by drones and electronic warfare. After safety checks, soldiers will conduct combat simulation exercises with the prototypes. The Army selected American Rheinmetall and General Dynamics Land Systems for the XM30 design phase in 2023. The XM30 is built on 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.
Testing and Delivery Timeline
- The vehicle is scheduled to begin testing immediately.
- Seven additional prototypes are expected for delivery later this year.
- The evaluation is part of a roughly $764 million Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract, which covers the vehicle’s development from digital design through validation.
Design and Technology
The Lynx XM30 was designed for a battlefield increasingly shaped by drones and electronic warfare, according to the company. Key features include:
- Modular, open architecture to enable rapid integration of new technology while the vehicle is in service.
- First-of-its-kind hybrid-electric powertrain, combining a traditional engine with electric power.
Soldier Evaluation
Once the prototypes clear safety checks, soldiers will put them through combat-simulating 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
Army TimesWestern
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American Rheinmetall delivers first Lynx XM30 prototype to U.S. Army to replace Bradley Fighting Vehicle