General Dynamics Griffin#Griffin II
{{Short description|Series of American armored fighting vehicles}}
{{Infobox weapon
|is_vehicle=yes
|type=Armored fighting vehicle
|origin= United States
|manufacturer=
|designer=General Dynamics Land Systems
|introduced=
|name=Griffin
| image = MobileProtectedFirepower.jpg
| image_size = 300
|caption= Griffin II Mobile Protected Firepower for U.S. Army circa 2022
|length=
|width=
|height=
|weight= 27–28 tons (Griffin - TD, based on Ajax configuration{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT6sgBxbUXY|title = AUSA 2016 Association of US Army conference defense exhibition Washington DC United States Day 1|website = YouTube}})
roughly 38 tons (Griffin II{{Cite web|url=https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/land/army-to-buy-500-new-light-tank-mobile-protected-firepower-vehicles-hfQIKlru8ESGlEiG_xiuDw|title = Army to Buy 500 New "Light Tank" Mobile Protected FirePower Vehicles}})
38–50 tons (Griffin III{{Cite web|url=https://breakingdefense.com/2018/10/general-dynamics-griffin-takes-lead-to-replace-m2-bradley/|title = General Dynamics Griffin Takes Lead to Replace M2 Bradley: Analysis|date = 15 October 2018}})
|suspension=Hydropneumatic
|speed=
|primary_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
|armor=
|crew=
|engine=diesel
|transmission=
}}
The General Dynamics Griffin is a series of armored fighting vehicles under development by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) for the United States Army.{{Cite web|last=Trevithick|first=Joseph|title=This Massive Gun Toting Armored Beast Could Replace The Army's Bradley Fighting Vehicles|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/24114/one-of-these-big-cannon-toting-armored-vehicles-may-replace-the-bradley-fighting-vehicle|access-date=2020-09-02|website=The Drive|date=8 October 2018 }} The Griffin is a derivative of ASCOD family of AFVs, which was also designed by GDLS.{{Cite web|last=Freedberg|first=Sydney J. Jr.|title=General Dynamics' Griffin III For US Army Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV)|url=https://breakingdefense.com/2018/10/gdls-griffin-iii-next-generation-combat-vehicle-ngcv-concept/|access-date=2020-09-02|website=Breaking Defense|date=9 October 2018|language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://breakingdefense.com/2016/10/general-dynamics-griffin-dont-call-it-a-tank-its-totally-a-tank/|title = General Dynamics Griffin: Don't Call It a Tank (It's Totally a Tank)|date = 3 October 2016}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.defensedaily.com/general-dynamics-griffin-light-tank-concept-combines-three-programs-into-one/army/|title=General Dynamics 'Griffin' Light Tank Concept Combines Three Programs into One|date=3 October 2016}}
= Griffin II =
{{main|M10 Booker}}
File:M10 Booker firing 2024.jpg firing its 105 mm caliber M35 gun in 2024]]
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a35634134/army-mpf-tank/|title = Two Light Tank Prototypes Battle for the Future of Army Firepower|date = 7 March 2021}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.nationalguardmagazine.com/publication/?i=630500&article_id=3519118&view=articleBrowser&ver=html5|title = Tomorrow Talk}}{{cite web| url = https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/ausa-2018-general-dynamics-swoops-50mm-equipped-gr/| title = AUSA 2018: General Dynamics swoops in with 50mm-equipped Griffin - Shephard Media}}
In December 2018, GDLS was downselected, along with BAE Systems, to develop prototypes.{{cite web| url = https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-army-awards-general-dynamics-contract-for-mobile-protected-firepower-300768433.html| title = U.S. Army awards General Dynamics contract for Mobile Protected Firepower}} GDLS presented its first prototype in April 2020.{{Cite web|last=Keller|first=Jared|title=This could be the Army's next light tank of choice|url=https://taskandpurpose.com/military-tech/army-mobile-protected-firepower-general-dynamics-submission|access-date=2020-09-04|website=Task & Purpose|date=24 April 2020|language=en}} BAE's M8 AGS proposal was disqualified in March 2022.{{cite web | url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-army-eliminates-bae-systems-from-light-tank-competition | title=US Army eliminates BAE Systems from 'light tank' competition }}
In June 2022, GDLS won the Mobile Protected Firepower program competition and was awarded a contract worth up to $1.14 billion.{{cite web | url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/the-army-just-selected-its-first-light-tank-in-decades | title=The Army Just Selected Its First Light Tank in Decades | date=28 June 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://breakingdefense.com/2022/06/general-dynamics-wins-1-14-billion-mobile-protected-firepower-contract/ | title=General Dynamics wins $1.14 billion Mobile Protected Firepower contract | date=28 June 2022 }} In June 2023, MPF was officially designated as M10 Booker, named after Staff Sgt. Stevon A. Booker and Pvt. Robert D. Booker.{{Cite web |title=Army unveils the M10 Booker, its first new combat vehicle in two decades |url=https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2023-06-10/army-combat-vehicle-m10-booker-10387122.html |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=Stars and Stripes |language=en}}
= Griffin III =
Griffin III was first unveiled at the Association of the United States Army's 2018 Exposition in Huntsville, Alabama.{{Cite web|last=Releases|first=DP Press|title=General Dynamics Unveils Griffin III Light Tank Technology Demonstrator At AUSA 2018|url=https://defpost.com/general-dynamics-unveils-griffin-iii-light-tank-technology-demonstrator-ausa-2018/|access-date=2020-09-04|website=DefPost|language=en-GB|archive-date=2020-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109034830/https://defpost.com/general-dynamics-unveils-griffin-iii-light-tank-technology-demonstrator-ausa-2018/|url-status=dead}} It was being offered under Army's XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle (MICV) 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){{Cite web|last=Roblin|first=Sebastien|date=2018-10-27|title=The Army's M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Is Old. What Replaces It Could Be Revolutionary.|url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/armys-m2-bradley-fighting-vehicle-old-what-replaces-it-could-be-revolutionary-34507|access-date=2020-09-04|website=The National Interest|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=International|first=Forecast|date=2018-10-17|title=AUSA 2018 Wrap-Up|url=https://dsm.forecastinternational.com/wordpress/2018/10/17/ausa-2018-wrap-up/|access-date=2020-09-04|website=Defense Security Monitor|language=en-US}} and AeroVironment’s Switchblade loitering munition system.
See also
{{commonscat|General Dynamics Griffin}}
- {{lwc|M1128 mobile gun system}}
- {{lwc|Sabrah light tank}}
- {{lwc|Type 15 tank}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{General Dynamics}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Experimental military vehicles
Category:General Dynamics land vehicles
Category:Tracked armoured fighting vehicles
Category:Tracked infantry fighting vehicles