January 25, 2021
The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV)
Background
Figure 1. The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle
The Army describes the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle
(AMPV) General Purpose Variant
(AMPV), a tracked support vehicle, as follows:
The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) is
the replacement for the M113 Family of Vehicles
(FoV) within the Armored Brigade Combat Team
(ABCT), comprising approximately 30 % of its
tracked vehicle fleet. There are five variants:
The General Purpose (Figure 1) variant
accommodates two crew, six passengers, is
reconfigurable to carry one litter, mount crew
served weapons, and integrates a variety of
communications and battle management systems.

The Mortar Carrier variant accommodates two
Source: United States Army Acquisition Support Center,
crew members, two mortar crew members, one
https://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/gcs-ampv/, accessed January
mounted 120 mm mortar, 69 rounds of 120 mm
18, 2021.
ammunition, and communications and fire control
Current Program Status
systems.
The AMPV is currently being produced by BAE Systems in
The Mission Command variant is the cornerstone
York, PA. On January 25, 2019, the AMPV entered the
of the Army’s ABCT Network Modernization
low-rate initial production phase. The Army planned for
Strategy. It is intended to take advantage of
acquiring a total of 2,907 AMPVs, with initial vehicle
increased size, weight, power and cooling
delivery in 2020. The current AMPV program plans to
technology and provide a significant increase in
replace 2,897 M113 vehicles at the brigade and below level
command, control, communications and computer
within the ABCT. There are an additional 1,922 M113s
capability. The variant accommodates a driver and
supporting non-ABCT affiliated units (referred to as
Echelons Above Brigade [EAB] units) that are not included
commander and two workstation operators, and its
in the Army’s modernization plan. A full-rate production
red side network provides full Tactical Command
(FRP) decision is planned for the third quarter of FY2022.
Post capabilities at brigade and battalion levels.
The Medical Evacuation variant includes room for
three crew members, six ambulatory patients or four
Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) is a programmatic
litter patients or three ambulatory and two litter
decision made when manufacturing development is completed
and there is an ability to produce a small-quantity set of
patients, and storage for medical equipment.
articles. It also establishes an initial production base and sets
The Medical Treatment variant includes room for
the stage for a gradual increase in the production rate to
four crew members, one litter patient and a patient
allow for Ful -Rate Production (FRP) upon completion of
treatment table.
Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E).
Full-Rate Production (FRP) is a decision made that allows
for government contracting for economic production
quantities fol owing stabilization of the system design and
validation of the production process.
Testing Deficiencies and Production Problems
During a limited user test (LUT) in FY2019, the
Department of Defense (DOD) Director of Operational Test
and Evaluation (DOT&E) and the Army Test and
Evaluation Command (ATEC) identified 24 items while
testing prototype AMPVs that BAE should correct and have
evaluated during the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation
(IOT&E) planned for the fourth quarter of FY2021.
Reportedly due to BAE production challenges and effects
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The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV)
of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic,
Potential Issues for Congress
BAE did not meet the July 2020 first vehicle delivery date
and is six to eight months behind the original schedule to
Will the AMPV Become a Major Bill Payer for
deliver vehicles to support AMPV IOT&E and live-fire test
Army Modernization?
events. BAE reportedly delivered its first LRIP AMPV to
With the Army’s decision to reduce AMPV funding in
the Army on August 31, 2020.
FY2021 and the Army reportedly stating that “Night
Court”—the Army’s program review process used to
Budgetary Information
reprioritize funding from existing programs—is “here to
stay,” some may question if the AMPV will become a
Table 1. FY2021 Army Budget Request
major bill payer for Army modernization. The AMPV
Total
program could be modified by reducing its procurement
Total Request
Request
objective and/or by extending the overall procurement
Funding Category
($M)
(Qty)
timeline, thereby pushing costs further into the future. As it
RDT&E
96.6
—
stands, there appears to be a degree of program uncertainty,
as well as questions concerning the validity of the Army’s
Procurement
193.0
32
original requirements and plans for the AMPV, which was
TOTAL
289.6
32
once described as “the Army’s number one vehicle
Source: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
priority.”
(Comptrol er)/Chief Financial Officer, Program Acquisition Cost by
Weapon System: United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year
Given the possibility the AMPV program might be subject
2021 Budget Request, February 2020, p. 3-4.
to more reviews and program adjustments to free up
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test & Evaluation: $M =
funding for other Army priorities, policymakers might
U.S. Dollars in Mil ions; Qty = FY2021 Procurement Quantities.
consider reviewing the Army’s updated requirements for
the AMPV.
Table 2. FY2021 Defense Authorizations
and Appropriations
The Way Ahead: Upgraded M-113s at Echelons
Authorized
Approp.
Above Brigade (EAB)
Funding Category
($M)
($M)
As previously noted, the Army’s current modernization
RDT&E
76.6
79.7
plans do not include replacing EAB M-113s with AMPVs
Procurement
139.3
63.0
although, originally, the Army had planned to replace all
M-113s with AMPVs. Reportedly, on May 21, 2018, the
TOTAL
215.9
142.7
Army indefinitely postponed its plans to upgrade EAB M-
Source: Authorized: Report 116-617 Wil iam M. (Mac)
113s. Then, in January 2019, the Army reportedly decided
Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
to cancel all EAB M-113 replacement efforts. Given the
2021(P.L. 116-283) conference report to Accompany H.R. 6395,
frequently changing nature of the Army’s plans for
December 2, 2020. Appropriated: Explanatory statement to
addressing the replacement of legacy M-113s at EAB and
accompany the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2021
the decision to cancel M-113 EAB replacement,
(Division C of P.L. 116-260), Congressional Record, daily edition, vol.
policymakers might question if the Army has a clearly
166 (December 21, 2020).
defined “way ahead” for addressing M-113s at EAB. Will
the Army “leave” approximately 1,900 M-113s at EAB and
Army AMPV Reprograming Request
continue to maintain these Vietnam era vehicles? Will they
In June 2020, the Army sought to reprogram $18.5 million
be replaced by another vehicle? Or is the Army still trying
from the AMPV program into other programs, as the
to decide on a course of action and an overall program
program was behind schedule by four to six months. This
strategy?
request was denied by the House Appropriations
Committee.
For a more detailed historical discussion of the AMPV
Foreign Military Sales
Program, see CRS Report R43240, The Army’s Armored Multi-
Purpose Vehicle (AMPV): Background and Issues for Congress, by
There are no reported Foreign Military Sales actions
Andrew Feickert .
associated with the AMPV.

Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
IF11741


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The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV)


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