Program · United States · U.S. Army
M88 Recovery Vehicle (M88A2 HERCULES)
Armored recovery vehicle supporting combat vehicle recovery and repair.
Cost to the Government
| Measure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Program totals · 1 | ||
| R&D program totalA lifetime program R&D total was not established. Development contracts and shared program budgets are not substituted for that total. | Not established | — |
| Unit costs · 2 | ||
| FY2025 mixed-family gross unit figureArmy P-40 divides family production, modifications and support by 10 vehicles. A3 work is included; not a standalone M88A2 price. | $15.166MNominal $; source budget basis | FY2025 Army Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles budget exhibits U.S. Army · figure FY2025 request · PB2025 |
| Comparable unit priceNo comparable standalone unit price was established; package or contract totals are shown separately. | Not established | — |
| Quantities · 2 | ||
| U.S. inventoryA current U.S. inventory was not established. Annual procurement, cumulative deliveries and production capacity are not a stockpile count. | Not established | — |
| U.S. procurement quantityNo comparable U.S. procurement quantity was established in this review. | Not established | — |
| Operating costs · 1 | ||
| Annual operations & supportA complete, system-specific annual operating and support cost was not established. Procurement, replacement rounds and contract support are different measures. | Not established | — |
Program totals · 1
- R&D program totalA lifetime program R&D total was not established. Development contracts and shared program budgets are not substituted for that total.Source not recordedNot established
Unit costs · 2
- FY2025 mixed-family gross unit figureArmy P-40 divides family production, modifications and support by 10 vehicles. A3 work is included; not a standalone M88A2 price.FY2025 Army Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles budget exhibits U.S. Army · figure FY2025 request · PB2025$15.166MNominal $; source budget basis
- Comparable unit priceNo comparable standalone unit price was established; package or contract totals are shown separately.Source not recordedNot established
Quantities · 2
- U.S. inventoryA current U.S. inventory was not established. Annual procurement, cumulative deliveries and production capacity are not a stockpile count.Source not recordedNot established
- U.S. procurement quantityNo comparable U.S. procurement quantity was established in this review.Source not recordedNot established
Operating costs · 1
- Annual operations & supportA complete, system-specific annual operating and support cost was not established. Procurement, replacement rounds and contract support are different measures.Source not recordedNot established
Earlier observations · 3
Superseded estimates and prices, each in its original scope and dollar basis.
| Measure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| M88-family procurement and modification funding1 | $179.15MNominal $; source budget basis | FY2025 Army Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles budget exhibits U.S. Army · figure FY2023 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot |
| M88-family procurement and modification funding1 | $41.058MNominal $; source budget basis | FY2025 Army Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles budget exhibits U.S. Army · figure FY2024 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot |
| M88-family procurement and modification funding1 | $151.657MNominal $; source budget basis | FY2025 Army Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles budget exhibits U.S. Army · figure FY2025 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot |
- M88-family procurement and modification funding1FY2025 Army Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles budget exhibits U.S. Army · figure FY2023 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot$179.15MNominal $; source budget basis
- M88-family procurement and modification funding1FY2025 Army Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles budget exhibits U.S. Army · figure FY2024 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot$41.058MNominal $; source budget basis
- M88-family procurement and modification funding1FY2025 Army Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles budget exhibits U.S. Army · figure FY2025 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot$151.657MNominal $; source budget basis
1Annual program funding in the cited budget vintage; not a unit price, contract award, or actual delivery count.
A2 and A3 must not share a headline price
The FY2025 line supports M88A2 and M88A3 technical services and modifications. Its vehicle quantities are explicitly provisional pending negotiations.
A broader sustainment scope drives apparent cost growth
GAO reports 94% O&S growth versus the prior estimate: the newer review added A1 to A2, extended economic life, and included previously omitted costs. It does not establish an A2-only annual bill.
Contracts & purchasing · 1
Ceilings, options and purchase agreements are not spending and are never added together. Obligations are under Contracts.
| Buyer → seller | Status | Value | Qty | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia → U.S. Foreign Military SalesSix M88A2s are one component of a package also containing Abrams, M1150s, bridges, engines and support. Entire package value cannot be assigned to recovery vehicles. | Proposed mixed-platform package | $1.685B | 6 | Australia heavy armored combat systems proposed sale, April 29, 2021 DSCA · figure Apr 29, 2021 |
International buyers · 1
| Country | Qty | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| AustraliaM88A2 component of mixed package; not verified delivery count. | 6 | Proposed sale · notification | Australia heavy armored combat systems proposed sale, April 29, 2021 DSCA · figure Apr 29, 2021 |
Open research: Buyer records are selected examples, not a complete global order book. Current U.S. inventory requires additional public evidence; procurement quantities are not inventory. Complete system-specific annual operating and support costs were not established. A lifetime R&D total was not established; contract and annual funding scopes remain separate.
What the government budgets and pays for this program, from budget justification books, appropriations, acquisition reports and contract announcements. Each figure states its dollar basis. What contractors were obligated is under Contracts.
Contracts$215M obligated since FY2008
Contractors1
- BAE Systems$215M 100%
Awards3
- BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P.PROCUREMENT OF M88A2 HERCULES VEHICLESU.S. Army · Definitive Contract · Dec 22, 2025$85.7Mobligated · up to $85.7M ceiling
- BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P.PRODUCTION OF 26 M88A2 COMBAT RECOVERY VEHICLES FOR FMSU.S. Army · Definitive Contract · Dec 6, 2022$129Mobligated · up to $129M ceiling
- BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P.RETROFIT FOR 6 USA M88A2 TO AUSTRALIA CONFIGURATIONU.S. Army · Definitive Contract · Dec 20, 2018$1.2Mobligated · up to $1.2M ceiling
Obligations are signed USAspending prime-contract actions coded to this program, FY2008 to date, credited to the company that received each action. Obligations are money committed, not company revenue.