The M10 Booker vehicle, despite being classified by the Pentagon as a light tank rather than a conventional tank like the Abrams, marks a significant addition to the US Army’s arsenal. Its 105 mm gun is specifically crafted to bolster infantry support capabilities.
The fiscal year 2025 budget request from the Pentagon has unveiled the cost of the initial production batch of the M10 Booker units, which will form the foundational unit. The plan is to acquire 33 tanks, with a budget allocation of $460.6 million, equating to $13.95 million per tank. This differs from the earlier pre-production batch currently undergoing extensive testing, priced at $496.8 million for 33 units, or $15 million per tank.
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Such price variations are typical during the initial phases of weapon production. However, as full-scale serial production commences with a target of manufacturing 504 units by 2035, costs are expected to decrease. In the summer of 2023, the estimated cost was around $13 million per unit, not factoring in inflationary adjustments. This pricing places the M10 Booker vehicle in line with modern infantry fighting vehicles, considering it shares the ASCOD chassis used in platforms like the Spanish Pizarro, Austrian Ulan, and British Ajax.
In contrast to the Abrams, which is a full-fledged main battle tank designed primarily as a mobile anti-tank weapon, the M10 Booker fulfills a niche role as a light mobile vehicle aimed at enhancing unit firepower.
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