Updated March 14, 2023
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, in the following
section.
The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) is
the replacement for the M-113 Family of Vehicles
(FoV) within the Armored Brigade Combat Team
(ABCT), comprising approximately 30% of its
tracked vehicle fleet. Five variants are planned:
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.

Source: United States Army Acquisition Support Center,
The Mortar Carrier variant accommodates two
https://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/gcs-ampv/, accessed January
crew members, two mortar crew members, one
18, 2021.
mounted 120 mm mortar, 69 rounds of 120 mm
Program Status
ammunition, and communications and fire control
The AMPV is produced by BAE Systems in York, PA. On
systems.
January 25, 2019, the AMPV entered the low-rate initial
The Mission Command variant is the cornerstone
production phase (LRIP). The Army originally planned for
of the Army’s ABCT Network Modernization
acquiring a total of 2,907 AMPVs, with initial vehicle
Strategy. It is intended to take advantage of
delivery in 2020. The AMPV program plans to replace
increased size, weight, power and cooling
2,897 M113 vehicles at the brigade and below level within
technology and provide a significant increase in
the ABCT. There are an additional 1,922 M113s supporting
command, control, communications and computer
non-ABCT affiliated units (referred to as Echelons Above
capability. The variant accommodates a driver and
Brigade [EAB] units) that are not included in the Army’s
modernization plan.
commander and two workstation operators, and its
network provides full tactical command post
capabilities at brigade and battalion levels.
Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) is a programmatic
The Medical Evacuation variant includes room for
decision made when manufacturing development is completed
three crew members, six ambulatory patients or four
and there is an ability to produce a small-quantity set of
litter patients or three ambulatory and two litter
articles. It also establishes an initial production base and sets
the stage for a gradual increase in the production rate to
patients, and storage for medical equipment.
allow for Ful -Rate Production (FRP) upon completion of
The Medical Treatment variant includes room for
Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E).
four crew members, one litter patient, and a patient
Full-Rate Production (FRP) is a decision made that allows
treatment table.
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 needed to 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
Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, BAE did not meet
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link to page 2 The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV)
the July 2020 first vehicle delivery date and was six to eight
inflationary pressures on commodity prices, reusable parts
months behind the original schedule to deliver vehicles to
supply expended from vehicles during LRIP, and
support AMPV IOT&E and live-fire test events. BAE
purchasing AMPVs at lower production rates.
reportedly delivered its first LRIP AMPV to the Army on
August 31, 2020. In March 2023, it was noted by DOD that
Considerations for Congress
the AMPV FRP decision was expected sometime in
Oversight questions Congress could consider include the
FY2023.
following:
AMPV Reaches Low-Rate Initial Production Rates
M-113s Provided to Ukraine and
In October 2021, it was reported that monthly AMPV
AMPV Procurement
production had reached contracted LRIP levels and early
According to a March 3, 2023, DOD fact sheet on U.S.
manufacturing troubles had subsided. Because of previous
Security Assistance to Ukraine, 300 M-113s have been
delays, total AMPV production remained behind schedule,
pledged to Ukraine. Reportedly, the M-113s are to be taken
but BAE planned to achieve full-rate production by the end
from the Army National Guard. It is not known if the Biden
of FY2022.
Administration will include additional M-113s in future
Ukraine military aid packages.
Army to Begin Training with AMPV in Early 2023
In October 2022, the AMPV Program Executive Officer
Reportedly, the Army plans to replace M-113s transferred
(PEO) reportedly stated the first Army unit would begin
to Ukraine with AMPVs on a one-to-one basis, and the
training with the AMPV in January 2023. The PEO further
Army was reportedly seeking additional funding in its
noted the Army planned to equip the unit with 130 AMPVs
FY2024 budget request. An examination of the FY2024
in January 2023 to facilitate training. The first Army unit to
AMPV budget request at Table 1 does not appear to
receive AMPVs was not identified, but final operational
include additional funds for a one-to-one replacement.
testing for the AMPV was conducted at Ft. Stewart, GA.
However, the Army might seek this AMPV replacement
funding in a FY2024 supplemental budget request.
FY2024 AMPV Budgetary Information
Congress might wish to clarify the Army’s funding
requirements and plans for replacing current and future M-
Table 1. FY2024 AMPV Budget Request
113s provided to Ukraine with AMPVs.
Total
Funding
Total Request
Request
Updated AMPV Program Plans
Category
($M)
(Qty.)
As previously noted, the 2020 AMPV production delay
Procurement
$554.8
91
reportedly resulted in increased per vehicle costs and
TOTAL
$554.8
91
slower-than-planned-for annual production quantities. If
approved AMPV acquisition quantities remain at 2,897
Source: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
vehicles, there could be cost implications resulting from
(Comptrol er)/Chief Financial Officer, Program Acquisition Cost by
higher per-vehicle costs as well as a longer production and
Weapon System: United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year
fielding timeline needed to equip Active and Army National
2024 Budget Request, March 2023, p. 3-4.
Guard ABCTs. In addition, possible accelerated AMPV
Notes: $M = U.S. dollars in mil ions; Qty. = FY2024 procurement
production to backfill M-113s provided to Ukraine could
quantities.
have an appreciable impact on the Army’s current AMPV
production and fielding plans. Given these considerations,
AMPV Annual Production Rate
Congress might decide to review the Army’s current
Reportedly, by FY2024, AMPV production rates are
AMPV program plans to determine if an update is required.
planned to increase to 131 vehicles per year and to continue
at that level until at least FY2027. Earlier AMPV program

planning documents issued before the 2020 production
delay had reportedly called for an annual production rate of
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
190 AMPVs per year by FY2024. Supposedly, reduced
production rates and increased commodity prices have
IF11741
contributed to higher unit costs per vehicle. Unit price
increases reportedly have also been attributed to strong


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


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