Reference Message Network reported on May 25 that according to a report by Japan Yahoo News on May 23, the US Army officially suspended the development and procurement project of the M10 "Bulkb" combat vehicle at the beginning of May.

The M10 is a tracked armored vehicle developed by the US Army to enhance firepower support for infantry brigade combat teams. Its main weapon is a 105mm cannon, which is the same as the cannon used by the 16th type wheeled tank and the retired 74th type tank of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force.

Tracked armored vehicles equipped with 105mm cannons are usually classified as light tanks, but the US Army initially planned to use the M10 as an operational vehicle more maneuverable than a light tank, thus categorizing it as a combat vehicle rather than a light tank.

The mobility of combat vehicles is generally divided into "strategic mobility" and "tactical mobility." Strategic mobility depends on the loading capacity of the transport aircraft or ship, while tactical mobility depends on the driving performance of the vehicle itself. The US Army originally planned to give the M10 strategic mobility, meaning that two could be transported by a C-17 transport aircraft at once, and they could also be dropped from transport aircraft when necessary.

However, due to the increase in weight during development, the idea of adding parachute capability was abandoned, and strategic mobility was reduced to the level of one per C-17 transport aircraft, equivalent to the level of the M1 "Abrams" main battle tank.

In terms of tactical mobility, the initial goal was to use it in locations where the deployment of heavy vehicles like the M1 was not possible. However, it was pointed out that at Fort Campbell, where operational testing was conducted, 6 out of 11 bridges might collapse under the weight of the M10. Therefore, the M10 became an operational vehicle far removed from its original design concept.

It is claimed that the combat weight of the M10 is as high as 42 tons. The Philippine Army introduced the Israeli "Sabra" light tank, which is equipped with the same 105mm cannon as the M10. Even after adding additional armor, the weight of the "Sabra" is only 33 tons. Compared with the "Sabra," the M10, as a light tank, is overweight, lacking in both strategic and tactical mobility, and its offensive and defensive capabilities are inferior to those of the M1 main battle tank, making it a very "useless" operational vehicle.

The report states that the main reason the M10 ultimately became so "useless" is the significant increase in weight compared to the original design, which was caused by the continuous addition of new features during development, a common occurrence in US weapons research and development.

The F-35 fighters equipped by the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force were initially developed as simpler and cheaper fighters, although they emphasized stealth performance, but there was not much difference from the F-16 fighters in other aspects.

At the turn of the century when the F-35 was being developed, computer and electronic equipment were rapidly advancing. Due to the incorporation of advanced technology, the F-35 fighter became more complex and expensive than originally envisioned.

The Future Combat System planned alongside the F-35 aimed to replace all US Army combat vehicles including the M1, creating a weapons system capable of conducting conventional warfare between nations while also addressing non-traditional security threats such as terrorism. However, the increased functionality meant heavier equipment and higher prices, ultimately leading to the suspension of the entire plan.

The OA-1K "Skyraider" II reconnaissance and light attack aircraft planned for use by the US Special Operations Command in 2025 is one piece of equipment whose service time has been greatly delayed due to this influence. The OA-1K was originally scheduled for use in the early 2010s, when the main task of the US military was to address non-traditional security threats. However, due to the need to add new features, the development cycle was repeatedly extended.

For the United States, which needs to conduct long-term strikes against terrorist organizations and drug cartels, the OA-1K will not become useless equipment. However, the current US military is required to develop equipment systems targeting conventional warfare, and it cannot be denied that the OA-1K has arrived somewhat late.

The report stated that since the US military needs to fight in various parts of the world, the weapons developed for its own forces must have strong capabilities sufficient to operate in any environment. The US defense budget is several orders of magnitude higher than that of other countries, and its powerful defense industry also supports the realization of this goal.

The report noted that pursuing higher-performance weapons is understandable, but the result has led to increased weapon weight, skyrocketing prices, delayed development schedules, and ultimately the creation of a pile of weapons with little practical use. This has become a problem that can be called the "American-made weapon disease." If this situation is not improved, it will not only pose risks to the US defense but also weaken the competitiveness of American-made weapons in the international market. (Compiled by Liu Lin)

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7508218015973818914/

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