Updated December 6, 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 (LRIP). The Army
Strategy. It is intended to take advantage of
planned for acquiring a total of 2,907 AMPVs, with initial
increased size, weight, power and cooling
vehicle delivery in 2020. The current AMPV program plans
technology and provide a significant increase in
to replace 2,897 M113 vehicles at the brigade and below
command, control, communications and computer
level within the ABCT. There are an additional 1,922
capability. The variant accommodates a driver and
M113s 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) by the end of 2021. Reportedly, due to BAE
production challenges and effects of the Coronavirus
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The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV)
Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, BAE did not meet
Potential Issues for Congress
the July 2020 first vehicle delivery date and is six to eight
months behind the original schedule to deliver vehicles to
Has the AMPV Become a Major Bil Payer for
support AMPV IOT&E and live-fire test events. BAE
Army Modernization?
reportedly delivered its first LRIP AMPV to the Army on
With the Army’s decision to reduce AMPV funding in
August 31, 2020.
FY2021 and FY2022 and reported production delays
resulting in the program falling behind schedule, it appears
AMPV Reaches Low-Rate Initial Production Rates
the AMPV program has become a major bill payer for
In October 2021, it was reported that monthly production of
Army modernization. While the Army reportedly remains
the AMPV had reached contracted levels for LRIP and the
committed to fully fielding the AMPV, further
early manufacturing troubles had subsided. Because of
programmatic problems could result in additional AMPV
earlier delays, total AMPV production remains behind
funds being used for other Army modernization priorities.
schedule but BAE plans to achieve full-rate production by
As it stands, there appears to be a degree of programmatic
the end of FY2022.
uncertainty and risk, as well as questions concerning the
validity of the Army’s original requirements and plans for
Budgetary Information
the AMPV, which was once described as “the Army’s
number one vehicle priority.”
Table 1. FY2022 AMPV Budget Request
Total
Given the possibility the AMPV program might be subject
Total Request
Request
to more Army cost-cutting reviews and program
Funding Category
($M)
(Qty)
adjustments to free up funding for other Army priorities,
RDT&E
$35.6
—
policymakers might consider reviewing the Army’s AMPV
program. Such a review could include revised overall
Procurement
$104.7
—
vehicle requirements, new production and fielding
TOTAL
$140.3
—
timelines, and potential program cost increases resulting
Source: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
from program delays and cuts to funding.
(Comptrol er)/Chief Financial Officer, Program Acquisition Cost by
Weapon System: United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year
The Way Ahead: Upgraded M-113s at Echelons
2022 Budget Request, May 2021, p. 3-4.
Above Brigade (EAB)
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test & Evaluation: $M =
As previously noted, the Army’s current modernization
U.S. Dol ars in Mil ions; Qty = FY2022 Procurement Quantities.
plans do not include replacing EAB M-113s with AMPVs
although, originally, the Army had planned to replace all
Table 2. FY2022 AMPV Defense Authorizations and
Appropriations
M-113s with AMPVs. Reportedly, on May 21, 2018, the
Army indefinitely postponed its plans to upgrade EAB M-
Funding Category
Authorized
Appropriated
113s. Then, in January 2019, the Army reportedly decided
to cancel all EAB M-113 replacement efforts. Given the

$M
$M
frequently changing nature of the Army’s plans for
addressing the replacement of legacy M-113s at EAB and
RDT&E
$35.6 (H.R.
$35.6 (H.R. 4432/S.
the decision to cancel M-113 EAB replacement,
4350/S. 2972)
3023)
policymakers might question if the Army has a clearly
Procurement
$104.7 (H.R.
$63.0 (H.R. 4432)
defined “way ahead” for addressing M-113s at EAB. Will
the Army “
4350/S. 2972)
leave” approximately 1,900 M-113s at EAB and
$90.1(S. 3023)
continue to maintain these Vietnam era vehicles? Will they
Sources: H.Rept. 117-118 to accompany H.R. 4350; p. 407 (RDT&E)
be replaced by another vehicle? Or is the Army still trying
and p. 355 (Procurement); S.Rept. 117-39 to accompany S. 2792, p.
to decide on a course of action and an overall program
435 (RDT&E) and p. 386 (Procurement); H.Rept. 117-88 to
strategy?
accompany H.R. 4432, p. 242 (RDT&E); Explanatory Statement to
accompany Senate Appropriations Committee-released Department
For a more detailed historical discussion of the AMPV
of Defense Appropriations Act, 2022, p. 157 (RDT&E) and p. 76
Program, see CRS Report R43240, The Army’s Armored Multi-
(Procurement).
Purpose Vehicle (AMPV): Background and Issues for Congress, by
Foreign Military Sales
Andrew Feickert .
There are no reported Foreign Military Sales actions

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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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11741 · VERSION 4 · UPDATED

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