The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle
(AMPV): Background and Issues for Congress

Andrew Feickert
Specialist in Military Ground Forces
July 16, 2014
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
R43240


The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV): Background and Issues for Congress

Summary
The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) is the Army’s proposed replacement for the
Vietnam-era M-113 personnel carriers, which are still in service in a variety of support capacities
in Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs). 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. An estimated 3,000 of
these M-113 variants are currently in service with the Army.
The AMPV is intended to be a “vehicle integration” or non-developmental program (candidate
vehicles will be either existing vehicles or modified existing vehicles—not vehicles that are
specially designed and not currently in service). Some suggest that a non-developmental vehicle
might make it easier for the Army to eventually field this system to the force, as most of the
Army’s most recent developmental programs, such as the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV), the
Future Combat System (FCS), the Crusader self-propelled artillery system, and the Comanche
helicopter, were cancelled before they could be fully developed and fielded.
On November 26, 2013, the Army issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the AMPV. This RFP
stipulated that the Army plans to award a five-year EMD contract in May 2014 worth $458
million to a single contractor for 29 prototypes. While the March 2013 RFP established an
Average Unit Manufacturing Cost Ceiling for each AMPV at $1.8 million, this was rescinded to
permit vendors greater flexibility. The EMD phase is scheduled to run between FY2015 and
FY2019, followed by three years of low-rate initial production (LRIP) starting in 2020. The Army
currently plans to procure 2,907 AMPVs at an estimated program cost of $10.233 billion.
The Army’s decision to provide BAE System’s Bradley Fighting Vehicle to other vendors to use
as they develop their own AMPV design proposals as a means of cutting program costs has
resulted in claims of unfairness from General Dynamics Land Systems, which is developing its
proposal based on the Stryker Combat Vehicle. In late May 2014, General Dynamics Land
Systems pulled out of the AMPV program, suggesting the Army’s RFP would not allow the
company to provide a competitive solution.
The FY2015 President’s budget request for the AMPV is $92.4 million in RDT&E funding. This
$64 million increase from FY2014 provides for one Engineering, Manufacturing, and
Development (EMD) contract as well as program management support.
H.R. 4425, the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act, limits funding to 80% until the
Secretary of the Army provides congressional defense committees a report on the Army’s plans to
replace all M-113s at Echelons Above Brigade (EAB), as well as examining the feasibility of
using wheeled AMPV medical variants in ABCTs. The Senate version of the FY2015 National
Defense Authorization Act, S. 2410, recommends fully funding the Administration’s FY2015
AMPV budget request. The House version of the FY2015 defense appropriations bill
recommends fully funding the AMPV in FY2015 but calls for DOD to provide a report on
existing wheeled and tracked combat vehicles used for medical support.
A potential issue for Congress is the continuing AMPV pure versus mixed fleet debate. This
report will be updated.

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The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV): Background and Issues for Congress

Contents
Background ...................................................................................................................................... 1
The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) ................................................................................ 1
The Army’s AMPV Requirements ................................................................................................... 1
Program Overview ........................................................................................................................... 2
Department of Defense (DOD) Approves AMPV Program ............................................................. 3
Army Issues AMPV Request for Proposal (RFP) ............................................................................ 3
2013 Projected AMPV Production Quantities ................................................................................. 3
2014 Projected AMPV Production Quantities ................................................................................. 4
2014 Projected Total Program Costs ................................................................................................ 4
Recent Program Activities ............................................................................................................... 5
Army Extends Request for Proposal (RFP) Response Date ...................................................... 5
General Dynamics Protests AMPV RFP ................................................................................... 5
General Dynamics Appeals to Congress ................................................................................... 5
General Dynamics Decides Not to Pursue a Government Accountability Office
(GAO) Protest......................................................................................................................... 6
Army Delays AMPV Schedule and Modifies Request for Proposals ........................................ 6
General Dynamics Pulls Out of AMPV Competition ................................................................ 6
Possible Program Acceleration ............................................................................................ 6
Budgetary Issues .............................................................................................................................. 7
FY2014 ...................................................................................................................................... 7
FY2014 AMPV Budget Request ......................................................................................... 7
FY2014 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 113-66) ............................................... 7
Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2014 (P.L. 113-76) ............................................... 7
FY2015 ...................................................................................................................................... 7
FY2015 President’s Budget Request ................................................................................... 7
H.R. 4435, FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) .................................... 8
S. 2410, FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) ........................................ 8
H.R. 4870, H.Rept. 113-473, Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, 2015 ............... 8
Potential Issue for Congress ............................................................................................................ 9
Mixed AMPV Fleet Debate ....................................................................................................... 9

Tables
Table 1. M-113 Distribution in ABCTs, by Variant ......................................................................... 2
Table 2. 2013 Projected AMPV Production, by Variant .................................................................. 4

Contacts
Author Contact Information........................................................................................................... 10

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The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV): Background and Issues for Congress

Background
In early 1956, the Army began the development of an air-transportable, armored multi-purpose
vehicle family intended to provide a lightweight, amphibious armored personnel carrier for armor
and mechanized infantry units.1 Known as the M-113, it entered production in 1960 and saw
extensive wartime service in Vietnam. Considered a reliable and versatile vehicle, a number of
different variations of the M-113 were produced to fulfill such roles as a command and control
vehicle, mortar carrier, and armored ambulance, to name but a few. The Army began replacing the
M-113 infantry carrier version in the early 1980s with the M-2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle,
but many non-infantry carrier versions of the M-113 were retained in service. According to
reports, about 3,000 M-113 variants are currently still in use.2
The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV)3
According to the Army:
The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) is the proposed United States Army program
for replacement of the M113 Family of Vehicles (FOV) to mitigate current and future
capability gaps in force protection, mobility, reliability, and interoperability by mission role
variant within the Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT) [now known as the Armored
Brigade Combat Team – ABCT]. The AMPV will have multiple variants tailored to specific
mission roles within HBCT. Mission roles are as follows: General Purpose, Medical
Evacuation, Medical Treatment, Mortar Carrier, and Mission Command. AMPV is a vehicle
integration program.
The Army’s AMPV Requirements4
Regarding the decision to replace remaining M-113s, the Army notes:
• The M-113 lacks the force protection and mobility needed to operate as part of
combined arms teams within complex operational environments. For example,
“commanders will not allow them to leave Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) or
enter contested areas without extensive mission protection and route clearance.”5
• The use of other vehicles for M-113 mission sets (casualty evacuations, for
example) reduces unit combat effectiveness.

1 Information in this section is taken from Christopher F. Foss, Jane’s Armour and Artillery, 2011-2012, 32nd Edition,
pp. 470-478.
2 Tony Bertuca, “Optimism Emerges for the AMPV Program, Though Pre-RFP Work Remains,” InsideDefense.com,
August 16, 2013.
3 From the Army’s AMPV Program website, https://contracting.tacom.army.mil/majorsys/ampv/ampv.htm, accessed
September 13, 2013.
4 Information in this section is taken from an Army briefing: “AMPV Industry Day,” April 23, 2013.
5 Ibid., p. 13.
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The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV): Background and Issues for Congress

M-113s are found in Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs), where they comprise 32% of the
tracked armored vehicles organic to that organization. The 114 M-113 variants in the ABCT are
distributed as follows:
Table 1. M-113 Distribution in ABCTs, by Variant
M-113 Variant Type
Number of M-113s
M-113A3 General Purpose (GP)
19
M-1068A3 Mission Command (MCmd)
41
M-1064 Mortar Carrier (MC)
15
M-113A3 Medical Evacuation (ME)
31
M-577 Medical Treatment (MT)
8
Source: Information in this table is taken from an Army briefing: “AMPV Industry Day,” April 23, 2013, p. 13.
Program Overview6
According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), in March 2012, the Under Secretary
of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (USD, AT&L) approved a materiel
development decision for AMPV and authorized the Army’s entry into the materiel solution
analysis phase. The Army completed the AMPV analysis of alternatives (AoA) in July 2012 and
proposed a non-developmental vehicle (the candidate vehicle will be either an existing vehicle or
a modified existing vehicle—not a vehicle that is specially designed and not in current service).
Because the AMPV is to be a non-developmental vehicle, DOD has decided that the program will
start at Milestone B, Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) Phase and skip the
Milestone A, Technology Development Phase.
The Army plans for a full and open competition and will award one industry bidder a 42-month
EMD contract to develop all five AMPV variants. A draft Request for Proposal (RFP) released in
March 2013 stated that the EMD contract would be worth $1.46 billion, including $388 million
for 29 EMD prototypes for testing between 2014 and 2017 and $1.08 billion for 289 low-rate
initial production (LRIP) models between 2018 and 2020. The Army had planned on releasing the
formal RFP in June 2013 but instead slipped the date until mid-September 2013, citing a delayed
Defense Acquisition Board review attributed in part to Department of Defense civilian furloughs.7
The EMD contract award was planned for May 2014. The Army is also planning for an average
unit manufacturing cost (AUMC) of $1.8 million per vehicle.

6 Information in this section is taken from the United States Government Accountability Office, Defense Acquisitions:
Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs, GAO-13-294SP, March 2013, p. 133, and an Army briefing: “AMPV
Industry Day,” April 23, 2013 and Tony Bertuca, “Optimism Emerges for AMPV Program Though Pre-RFP Work
Remains,” InsideDefense.com, August 16, 2013.
7 Tony Bertuca, “Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle RFP Scheduled for Mid-September,” InsideDefense.com,
August 9, 2013.
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The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV): Background and Issues for Congress

Department of Defense (DOD) Approves AMPV
Program8

On November 26, 2013, DOD issued an acquisition decision memorandum (ADM) officially
approving the Army’s entry into the Milestone B, Engineering and Manufacturing Development
(EMD) Phase. The ADM directed the Army to impose an Average Procurement Unit Cost less
than or equal to $3.2 million at a production rate of not less than 180 vehicles per year. In
addition, operations and sustainment costs are to be less than or equal to $400,000 per vehicle per
year. The Army is also directed to down select to a single prime contractor at the completion of
Milestone B.
Army Issues AMPV Request for Proposal (RFP)9
Also on November 26, 2013, the Army issued a new draft Request for Proposal (RFP) for the
AMPV. This latest RFP stipulates that the Army plans to award a five-year EMD contract in May
2014 worth $458 million to a single contractor for 29 prototypes. While the March 2013 RFP
established an Average Unit Manufacturing Cost Ceiling for each AMPV at $1.8 million, this was
rescinded to permit vendors greater flexibility. The EMD phase is scheduled to run between
FY2015 and FY2019, followed by three years of low-rate initial production (LRIP) starting in
2020.
2013 Projected AMPV Production Quantities10
Under 2013 plans and projected force structure, the Army planned to start full rate production of
the AMPV in FY2020 at the rate of two to three ABCTs per year. Total vehicle production by
variant is depicted in the following table:

8 Information in this section is taken from Department of Defense, “Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle Pre-Engineering
and Manufacturing Development Request for Proposals Acquisition Decision Memorandum,” November 26, 2013 and
Tony Bertuca, “DOD Officially OKs Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle Program; RFP Hits the Street,”
InsideDefense.com, November 26, 2013.
9 Information in this section is taken from Solicitation, Offer, and Award: Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle, Number:
W56HZV-13-R-0022, November 26, 2013 and Tony Bertuca, “DOD Officially OKs Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose
Vehicle Program; RFP Hits the Street,” InsideDefense.com, November 26, 2013.
10 Information in this section is taken from an Army briefing: “AMPV Industry Day,” April 23, 2013.
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The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV): Background and Issues for Congress

Table 2. 2013 Projected AMPV Production, by Variant
Training and Doctrine
Variant to Be
Command and Testing
Total Vehicles by
Replaced ABCT
Total
(See Notes)
Quantity
M-113A3 General Purpose
462 58 520
(GP)
M-1068A3 Mission
899 92 991
Command (MCmd)
M-1064 Mortar Carrier
348 36 384
(MC)
M-113A3 Medical
736 52 788
Evacuation (ME)
M-577 Medical Treatment
194 20 214
(MT)
Totals
2,639 258 2,897
Source: Information in this table is taken from an Army briefing: “AMPV Industry Day,” April 23, 2013, p. 23.
Notes: Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), the Army command responsible for training the force,
would use AMPVs at its various schools and courses for training soldiers. Testing AMPV quantities would be
allocated to various Army and Department of Defense organizations responsible for testing vehicles.
2014 Projected AMPV Production Quantities11
GAO’s March 2014 Assessment of Selected Weapons Programs report notes the new production
quantity for the AMPV is 2,907 vehicles—a 10 vehicle increase over 2013 quantities. Discussions
with the AMPV Program Manager revealed the 10 extra vehicles would be used for testing
purposes.12
2014 Projected Total Program Costs13
For a 2,907 vehicle procurement, GAO estimates total program costs as follows (FY2014
dollars):
• Research and Development: $779.9 million.
• Procurement: $ 9.443 billion.
• Estimated Total Program Cost: $10.223 billion.

11 United States Government Accountability Office, Defense Acquisitions: Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs,
GAO-14-340SP, March 2014, p. 129.
12 CRS Meeting with AMPV Program Manager, May 20, 2014.
13 Ibid.
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The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV): Background and Issues for Congress

Recent Program Activities
Army Extends Request for Proposal (RFP) Response Date14
Reports suggest the Army extended the deadline to industry to respond to the AMPV RFP from
February 24, 2014, until May 28, 2014, after General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS)—the
Stryker Combat Vehicle’s manufacturer—requested additional time. The reason why this
extension was granted was to permit GDLS to study the technical specifications of excess
Bradley Fighting Vehicles (designated Optional Exchange Vehicles [OEVs] by the Army), which
the Army has offered to vendors to use in their final AMPV production designs to “drive down”
total AMPV program costs. As the Bradley is manufactured by BAE Systems—the other
manufacturer vying for the AMPV contract—some Pentagon and Capitol Hill officials have
reportedly suggested because of the Army’s decision, BAE has an “edge” as its proposed design
is being built around a turretless Bradley, whereas GDLS has proposed both tracked and wheeled
designs based on its Stryker vehicle.
General Dynamics Protests AMPV RFP15
General Dynamics Land Systems reportedly filed a protest on February 14, 2014, with the Army
Material Command protesting the AMPV RFP. The basis of General Dynamic’s protest is the
program’s proposed timeline as well as the use of BAE’s Bradley Fighting Vehicle as the optional
exchange vehicle for design development. This type of protest supposedly should be resolved
within 90 days or less.
General Dynamics Appeals to Congress16
General Dynamics has reportedly been actively lobbying Congress to intervene in the AMPV
program, asking that program funding be denied until a more competitive plan is put forward by
the Army. GDLS contends the RFP is biased towards BAE’s Bradley Fighting Vehicle and
Bradley technical data have not been provided to other potential vendors and the Army has not
provided sufficient data or time for others to compete. Supposedly, GDLS is considering asking
for up to a three-year program delay so it has time to process the Bradley’s technical data and
then adjust its bid. A program delay would run counter to the Army’s efforts to accelerate the
AMPV program, an effort that has taken on increasing importance due to the recent termination
of the Army’s Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) program.17

14 Tony Bertuca, “Army’s RFP Response Date for AMPV Extended After GDLS Asks for Time,” InsideDefense.com,
January 31, 2014.
15 Tony Bertuca, “General Dynamics Protests RFP for Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle,” InsideDefense.com, February
20, 2014.
16 Tony Bertuca, “General Dynamics Lobbies Congress to Upend Army’s AMPV Program,” InsideDefense.com,
February 28, 2014.
17For additional information on the GCV see CRS Report R41597, The Army’s Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV)
Program: Background and Issues for Congress
, by Andrew Feickert.
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General Dynamics Decides Not to Pursue a Government
Accountability Office (GAO) Protest18

On April 14, 2014, GDLS reportedly announced it would not ask GAO to rule on the AMPV
program, noting that the company would instead continue to discuss the AMPV program with
DOD and Congress.
Army Delays AMPV Schedule and Modifies Request for
Proposals19

The Army has reportedly decided to move the award date for the AMPV System Development
contract until the second quarter of FY2015. The Army will also reportedly modify the AMPV
RFP to ensure the wider availability of Bradley Fighting Vehicle technical data.
General Dynamics Pulls Out of AMPV Competition20
On May 28, 2014, GDLS reportedly announced it would not submit an AMPV proposal,
suggesting “the requirements and other provisions of the [request for proposal] do not allow the
company to provide a competitive solution.”21 GDLS spokesman also reportedly stated the
company would not pursue a federal court decision so it would not hinder any further
participation by the company in the AMPV program, possibly suggesting GDLS envisions a
future role in the AMPV program. Reports also suggested Navistar Defense, which had been
rumored to be considering submitting an AMPV bid, would not participate in the program.
Possible Program Acceleration22
A BAE company spokesman reportedly stated that if the company was awarded the contract, it
could accelerate the program, possibly cutting 12 months from the proposed 52-month EMD
phase. BAE further notes if the Army compressed vehicle testing—based on the AMPV’s
commonality with the Bradley and Paladin Integrated Management System (PIMS)23—BAE
might also be able to further accelerate the program schedule.

18 “General Dynamics Opts to Skip GAO Protest Over Army Vehicle Plan,” Reuters, April 15, 2014, and Tony
Bertuca, “Army Delays AMPV Schedule as GDLS Forgoes GAO Protest,” InsideDefense.com, April 15, 2014.
19 Tony Bertuca, “Army Delays AMPV Schedule as GDLS Forgoes GAO Protest,” InsideDefense.com, April 15, 2014,
and Ann Roosevelt, “General Dynamics Will Continue Talking AMPV With Army, No Further Protest,” Defense
Daily
.
20 Tony Bertuca, “General Dynamics Land Systems Bows Out of the Army’s AMPV Competition,” InsideDefense.com,
May 30, 2014.
21 Ibid.
22 Ibid.
23 From the BAE website: “Paladin Integrated Management System (PIMS) is the latest howitzer in the BAE Systems
M109 family of vehicles, the primary indirect fire support system for the ABCTs. It uses the existing main armament
and cab structure of a Paladin M109A6, and replaces the vehicle’s chassis components with modem components
common to the Bradley vehicle,” accessed July 8, 2014.
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The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV): Background and Issues for Congress

Budgetary Issues
FY2014
FY2014 AMPV Budget Request24
The FY2014 AMPV Budget Request was $116.298 million in Research, Development, Test &
Evaluation (RDT&E) funding.
FY2014 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 113-66)25
Congress recommended fully funding the FY2014 AMPV budget request.
Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2014 (P.L. 113-76)26
The Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2014 recommended $28.3 million in RDT&E
funding, cutting $87.998 million from the FY2014 Budget AMPV Request due to schedule delay
and an Army requested program decrease, likely related to the Army’s decision to slip the
AMPV’s Request for Proposal from June 2013 to mid-September 2013.
FY2015
FY2015 President’s Budget Request27
The FY2015 President’s budget request for the AMPV is $92.4 million in RDT&E funding. This
$64 million increase from FY2014 provides for one Engineering, Manufacturing, and
Development (EMD) contract as well as program management support.

24 Department of Defense Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 President’s Budget Request, Justification Book, RDT&E – Volume II,
Budget Activity 54, April 2013, p. 6.
25 P.L. 113-66, National Defense Authorization Act for FY2014, December 26, 2013.
26 H.R. 3547, Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2014, (P.L. 113-76), January 17, 2014, Division C – Department
of Defense Appropriations Act, 2014.
27 Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer, United States Department of
Defense Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Request, Program Acquisition Cost by Weapon System, March 2014, p. 3-3 and U.S.
Army’s FY2015 Budget Briefing, March 4, 2014, p. 13.
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The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV): Background and Issues for Congress

H.R. 4435, FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)28
Section 212—Limitation on Availability of Funds for Armored Multi-Purpose
Vehicle Program

This section would limit obligation or expenditure of funds to not more than 80 percent for
the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) program until the Secretary of the Army
submits a report to the congressional defense committees on the Army’s plan to eventually
replace all M–113 Armored Personal Carriers (APC) within Echelons-Above-Brigade (EAB)
formations. The committee notes that in 2007, the Army identified the M–113 APC for
replacement due to its inadequate survivability and force protection. The committee further
notes that in the committee report (H. Rept. 112–78) accompanying the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 and in the committee report (H. Rept. 112–479)
accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, the committee
provided numerous options for consideration by the Army to accelerate the AMPV program.
The committee understands that the Army has released a Request for Proposal for the
Echelons-Below-Brigade (EBB) requirement which is focused on survivability shortfalls
within the Armor Brigade Combat Team. The committee continues to support the AMPV
program and expects the Army to conduct the competition in accordance with Federal
Acquisition Regulations. However, the committee is concerned that although the Army’s
current plan addresses a critical shortfall within EBB formations; there is currently no plan to
address the survivability shortfalls within Echelons-Above-Brigade formations. The
committee understands that there are approximately 2,000 M–113’s within existing EAB
formations. In addition, the committee notes that on at least one occasion, an Armor Brigade
Combat Team (ABCT) deployed to the Republic of Iraq with Stryker Medical Evacuation
Vehicles. Therefore, this section would also require the Secretary of the Army to include as
part of the report, an assessment for the feasibility of incorporating medical wheeled variants
within the ABCT.
S. 2410, FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)29
The Senate version of the FY2015 NDAA recommends fully funding the Administration’s
FY2015 AMPV budget request.
H.R. 4870, H.Rept. 113-473, Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, 201530
Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle
The congressional defense committees have encouraged the Army to adopt or develop a
replacement vehicle for the M113 series armored personnel carriers of Vietnam War vintage.
The challenge is to replace the M113 series with a vehicle or vehicles capable of filling the
M113 mission roles across the breadth and depth of the formations. Since any vehicles
procured by the Army are likely to remain in service for 40 or more years, the Committee
expects the Army to make choices based on merit and fiscal responsibility. When selecting a
replacement, the Army must also consider the five missions performed by the M113 variants:

28 H.Rept. 113-446, Howard P. “Buck” McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, May 13,
2014, pp. 101-102.
29 S.Rept. 113-176, Carl Levin National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, June 2, 2014, p. 352.
30 H.Rept. 113-473, Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, 2015, June 13, 2014, p. 223.
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general purpose, mortar carrier, mission command, medical evacuation, and medical
treatment. Additionally, the Army should consider the full spectrum of evolving missions.
The Committee notes that the Army has fielded a wheeled medical evacuation vehicle based
on a wheeled combat vehicle and that it has served in combat as a component of the armored
brigade combat teams. The Committee is aware that the Army is focusing on first replacing
the 2,897 M113 series vehicles that are located in the brigade combat teams. The Committee
encourages the Secretary of the Army to respond promptly to provide reports and briefings
directed by the congressional defense committees, while advancing the program within
funding limitations. The Committee recommendation provides $92,353,000, fully funding
this effort in fiscal year 2015. In addition, the Committee directs the Director of Cost
Assessment and Program Evaluation to provide a report to the congressional defense
committees not later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act on existing wheeled and
tracked combat vehicles that are used for medical purposes. The report should assess the
speed, agility, mobility, survivability, patient comfort, and suitability of these vehicles for
use by field medical personnel as well as the procurement and operation and support costs
for these vehicles to determine their suitability as the medical evacuation variant of the
Armored Multi-purpose Vehicle (AMPV) within the armored brigade combat team. This
report shall compare the results of the assessment cited above to the current Army plans to
develop, procure, and operate a new medical evacuation vehicle as part of the current AMPV
program of record. In addition, this report shall include a separate section providing the
independent views of the Army Surgeon General on the criteria outlined above and any other
criteria deemed relevant by the Army Surgeon General.
Potential Issue for Congress
Mixed AMPV Fleet Debate
Some Members have expressed concerns with the Army’s current AMPV RFP. They propose the
current RFP, which stipulates the selection of a single vendor, be modified so a mixed fleet (both
tracked and wheeled) of AMPVs can be acquired. This could essentially make the AMPV
procurement a multi-vendor effort. The Members supporting this course of action contend a
mixed fleet is “sensible, sustainable, cost effective for the taxpayer, and most importantly, best for
the warfighter.”31
Other Members reportedly support continuing the pure AMPV fleet approach, noting “any
changes to the AMPV acquisition will result in delays and increase costs to the program for the
Army” and that “our priority is to ensure a timely procurement of a more survivable and more
mobile personnel carrier for our soldiers.”32
Current FY2015 legislative proposals detailed in preceding sections call for further examination
of the use of wheeled AMPV variants at both Echelons Above Brigade (EAB) as well as for
medical evacuation purposes.

31 Letter to Secretary Frank Kendall, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisitions, Technology, and Logistics, from
Rep. Mike Rogers et al., April 3, 2014.
32 Tony Bertuca, “Two More Senators Support BAE in AMPV Letter to Senate Appropriators,” InsideDefense.com,
June 27, 2014.
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The Army contends if a mixed AMPV fleet proposal is adopted, the AMPV program could be
delayed by up to three years because the current RFP would need to be pulled back and
modified.33 The Army also suggests such a change could cost the AMPV program an additional
$300 million.34
Given the level of debate and as well as a variety of concerns expressed by Members, it is
possible the issue of either a pure or mixed AMPV fleet will not be resolved in the near future. If
this becomes the case, it might be possible to defer the production of the AMPV medical
evacuation (ME) and medical treatment (MT) variants as well as other variants that could fall into
the Echelons Above Brigade (EAB) category without a major program disruption. As part of a
potential pure or mixed AMPV fleet examination, Congress could ask the Army to look at a
variety of development and production scenarios which take into account different equipment
fielding schedules with the intent of minimizing both cost and operational risk.

Author Contact Information
Andrew Feickert
Specialist in Military Ground Forces
afeickert@crs.loc.gov, 7-7673


33 Ibid.
34 Ibid.
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