The US Army's Mobile Protected Firepower program aims to deliver what is essentially a light tank to light role Infantry Brigade Combat Teams. 24 Prototypes from @BAESystemsInc and @GD_LandSystems will be evaluated between now and 2022.

The platform has a basic weight of between 20-25 tonnes, but has the ability to add appliqué armour for higher levels of protection. The Iron First APS was observed on prototypes adding a further element of survivability.

MPF vehicles will mount the ubiquitous M35 105 mm rifled gun fed by an autoloader with 18 ready rounds. It will have a coaxial 7.62 mm MG plus a 12.7 mm BMG on top. This is the same gun fitted to the Stryker M1128 MGS.

MPF vehicles will mount a 105 mm gun. This is ideal for infantry support (e.g. taking out bunkers) but can also neutralise anything up to T-72 B3 at a longer ranges than a 30 or 50 mm cannon. New 105 mm ammo types offer impressive flexibility and penetration.

The GDLS MPF candidate is based on Ajax with an Abrams turret. The BAE Systems MPF candidate is based on the M8 Buford MGS developed more than a generation ago, but updated.

It is probably better to think of this platform as an assault gun rather than a light tank. It will certainly defeat IFVs and other medium weight platforms, but it's not intended to take-on MBTs.

The basic platform, without appliqué armour, is meant to be air droppable form a C-130. However, it seems that weight has grown, so it may need to be carried insidea C-17A, which is expected to carry two.

Light, compact and agile, yet packing a healthy punch, this vehicle is in many ways what the UK aspired to field with Ajax. If this programme is successful, then MPF is bound to attract export customers.