Updated June 3, 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
commander and two workstation operators, and its
Echelons Above Brigade [EAB] units) that are not included
red side network provides full Tactical Command
in the Army’s modernization plan. A full-rate production
Post capabilities at brigade and battalion levels.
(FRP) decision is planned for the third quarter of FY2022.
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
patients, and storage for medical equipment.
and there is an ability to produce a smal -quantity set of
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
al ow 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 al ows
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,
as questions concerning the validity of the Army’s original
BAE did not meet the July 2020 first vehicle delivery date
requirements and plans for the AMPV, which was once
and is six to eight months behind the original schedule to
described as “the Army’s number one vehicle priority.”
deliver vehicles to support AMPV IOT&E and live-fire test
events. BAE reportedly delivered its first LRIP AMPV to
Given the possibility the AMPV program might be subject
the Army on August 31, 2020.
to more Army cost-cutting reviews and program
adjustments to free up funding for other Army priorities,
Budgetary Information
policymakers might consider reviewing the Army’s AMPV
program. Such a review could include revised overall
Table 1. FY2022 Army Budget Request
vehicle requirements, new production and fielding
Total
timelines, and potential program cost increases resulting
Total Request
Request
from program delays and cuts to funding.
Funding Category
($M)
(Qty)
RDT&E
35.6
—
The Way Ahead: Upgraded M-113s at Echelons
Above Brigade (EAB)
Procurement
104.7
—
As previously noted, the Army’s current modernization
TOTAL
140.3
—
plans do not include replacing EAB M-113s with AMPVs
Source: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
although, originally, the Army had planned to replace all
(Comptrol er)/Chief Financial Officer, Program Acquisition Cost by
M-113s with AMPVs. Reportedly, on May 21, 2018, the
Weapon System: United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year
Army indefinitely postponed its plans to upgrade EAB M-
2022 Budget Request, May 2021, p. 3-4.
113s. Then, in January 2019, the Army reportedly decided
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test & Evaluation: $M =
to cancel all EAB M-113 replacement efforts. Given the
U.S. Dol ars in Mil ions; Qty = FY2022 Procurement Quantities.
frequently changing nature of the Army’s plans for
Foreign Military Sales
addressing the replacement of legacy M-113s at EAB and
the decision to cancel M-113 EAB replacement,
There are no reported Foreign Military Sales actions
policymakers might question if the Army has a clearly
associated with the AMPV.
defined “way ahead” for addressing M-113s at EAB. Will
Potential Issues for Congress
the Army “leave” approximately 1,900 M-113s at EAB and
continue to maintain these Vietnam era vehicles? Will they
be replaced by another vehicle? Or is the Army still trying
Has the AMPV Become a Major Bil Payer for
to decide on a course of action and an overall program
Army Modernization?
strategy?
With the Army’s decision to reduce AMPV funding in
FY2021 and FY2022 and reported production delays
resulting in no AMPV procurement in FY2021 and none
For a more detailed historical discussion of the AMPV
Program, see CRS Report R43240, The Army’s Armored Multi-
planned for FY2022, it appears the AMPV program has
become a major bill payer for Army modernization,
Purpose Vehicle (AMPV): Background and Issues for Congress, by
arguably, in part, because of production challenges and
Andrew Feickert .
delays. While the Army reportedly remains committed to

fully fielding the AMPV, further programmatic problems
could result in additional AMPV funds being used for other
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
Army modernization priorities . As it stands, there appears
to be a degree of programatic uncertainty and risk, as well
IF11741


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


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11741 · VERSION 3 · UPDATED

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