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2020-11-08

BAE Systems' AMPV Lays the Foundation for the Future of the Battlefield

The first Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) has recently driven off the BAE Systems production line. The AMPV is central to the U.S. Army’s modernisation objectives and comes in five variants to meet a wide range of missions across the battlefield.

“Finalising the first AMPV for delivery marks a major milestone for the programme and the U.S. Army,” said Bill Sheehy, AMPV programme director for BAE Systems’ Ground Vehicles product line. “The AMPV is designed to meet the Army’s missions for the Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCT) and lay the foundation for the future of the battlefield.” The AMPV will be integrated with the ABCT and is required to operate alongside the M1 Abrams tank and the M2 Bradley.

Identified by the U.S. Army as a top priority for safety and survivability, the AMPV family provides the Army with a highly survivable and mobile fleet of vehicles that address a critical need to replace the Vietnam War-era M113s and manoeuvre with the ABCT in challenging terrain on the front lines. While M-113s no longer serve as infantry fighting vehicles, five variants of the M-113 are used as command and control vehicles, general purpose vehicles, mortar carriers, and medical treatment and evacuation vehicles. Under the current low rate initial production contract awarded in 2018, BAE Systems will deliver more than 450 of the highly mobile, survivable, multi-purpose vehicles.

The AMPV has built-in growth to add new capabilities as technology evolves, including enhanced power generation for advanced electronics, and network connectivity. This gives the Army a vehicle to execute today’s missions, with the ability to adapt to future technologies and capabilities. It has completed nearly two dozen Army tests and has consistently met or exceeded all of its requirements.

Five Variants

The Mission Command vehicle: It will be the first vehicle delivered and is the cornerstone of the Army’s ABCT Network Modernisation Strategy. It facilitates digital mission command, taking advantage of increased volume, protection, power and cooling capabilities and provides flexibility and growth capacity for command, control, communications and computer capabilities.

The General Purpose vehicle: The vehicle operates throughout the battle space for the purpose of conducting resupply, maintenance, alternate casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) from point of injury and first sergeants’ vehicle for the Combined Arms Battalion. The GP accommodates a driver, commander and four soldiers. For CASEVAC, the vehicle can be reconfigured to accommodate a supine litter casualty without interference or displacement of crew or equipment.

The Mortar Carrier: This provides immediate, and responsive, heavy mortar fire support to the ABCT in the conduct of fast-paced offensive operations.

The Medical Evacuation vehicle: This version enables immediate treatment or evacuation at the point of injury to either ambulatory or litter casualties.

The Medical Treatment vehicle: It is the first of its kind, serving as an “operating room on tracks” for life-sustaining care to soldiers suffering from life-threatening injuries.

All the variants are designed to provide enhanced survivability and performance while maintaining commonality with the AMPV family of vehicles and the ABCT to minimise operating costs and logistic burdens.

“The AMPV family of vehicles provides significant power, mobility, interoperability, and survivability improvements for the ABCT,” said Jeremy Tondreault, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems’ Combat Mission Systems. “The AMPV has demonstrated outstanding survivability and force protection as well as flexibility and growth for the future.”

Survivable Vehicles

The AMPV is a mature, low-risk and cost-effective solution that rapidly delivers continued combat overmatch capability for the Army. The design leverages Bradley and M109A7 Self Propelled Howitzer modernisation and risk reduction investment to optimise mobility, vehicle electronics, and integrated mission equipment performance and deliver enhanced underbody protection. The vehicle’s enhanced armour protection utilise reactive armour tiles and common spall liner and applique. It features enhanced underbelly protection and automatic fire suppression systems in crew and engine compartments.

Moreover, increased driver field of vision aids manoeuvrability under close-in, urban combat. Situational awareness and manoeuvrability are further enhanced by the integrated heading reference unit. It also has improved network connectivity and Beyond Line-of-Sight capability through the addition of digital satellite communications hardware and software.

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