Army’s premier armored division to put new tank, infantry combat vehicle to the test at combat training center

Maj. Gen. Thomas Feltey, commander of 1st Cavalry Division, announced that prototype models of the M1E3 tank and XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle will be tested next spring. By fall 2026, the 1st Cavalry Division, based out of Fort Hood, Texas, will receive these prototypes for soldier training. Two platoons will receive the XM30 and one will get the M1E3, taking them to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. Soldiers will provide feedback to developers after operating the platforms across the Mojave Desert. The Pentagon’s fiscal 2027 budget request included $547 million for 19 XM30 platforms, which are designed with AI-enabled systems and hybrid propulsion to meet new combat environments and replace the M2 Bradley.