US Army orders AMPVs from BAE Systems

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The US Army is replacing its M113 armoured personal carriers with Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicles produced by BAE Systems.

AMPV variants include a general purpose vehicle for troop transport, along with mission command, mortar carrier, medical evacuation and medical treatment versions
AMPV variants include a general purpose vehicle for troop transport, along with mission command, mortar carrier, medical evacuation and medical treatment versions - BAE Systems

The UK defence company will manufacture the AMPVs at sites across the US in a contract worth $797m, rising to $1.6bn if options are exercised.

The US Army first awarded BAE Systems the AMPV contract in 2014 and signed a low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract in 2018. The first LRIP vehicle was delivered in August 2020.

This latest award brings the AMPV program into full-rate production, making it the first newly-designed and built tracked vehicle in the US Army’s fleet to reach this production stage in 30 years.

According to BAE, the multi-mission AMPVs – replacing the US Army’s fleet of Vietnam War-era M113 family of vehicles – will provide survivability, mobility, and interoperability upgrades to the US Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT). 

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“Entering full-rate production is a momentous milestone in the lifecycle of a production programme for both the US Army and BAE Systems,” said Jeremy Tondreault, president of the Platforms & Services sector at BAE Systems. “The AMPV is the next generation replacement for the venerable M113, and we are proud that this critical capability is on its way to the men and women who need our most capable combat vehicles on the front lines.”

Variants of the multi-mission AMPV family include general purpose vehicle, mortar carrier, medical evacuation vehicle, medical treatment vehicle, and mission command vehicle.

BAE added that the AMPV is specifically designed to accommodate future technology needs, including enhanced size, weight, and power provisions for network integration and future mission payloads. The vehicles have undergone dozens of tests to ensure the delivery of a safe, combat-ready platform.

Work on the AMPV program takes place across BAE Systems’ facilities in Aiken, South Carolina; Anniston, Alabama; Phoenix, Arizona; Sterling Heights, Michigan; and York, Pennsylvania.

AMPV