Updated March 15, 2023
The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV)
Background
The M1287 Mortar Carrier (MC) variant
The Army describes the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle
provides immediate, responsive, heavy mortar fire
(AMPV) in a March 14, 2023, press release:
support to the ABCT in the conduct of fast-paced
offensive operations by utilizing the M-121 Mortar
[The] AMPV is the replacement for the M-113
System and M-95 Mortar Fire Control System. The
Family of Vehicles within the Armored Brigade
MC variant accommodates four soldiers—one
Combat Team (ABCT), comprising approximately
30 percent of its tracked vehicle fleet. The Army’s
vehicle
crewmember
and
three
mortar
worldwide fleet of AMPVs will include nearly
crewmembers.
3,000 vehicles delivered within the next 20 years.
Figure 1. The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle
The M1283 General Purpose (GP) variant
(AMPV) General Purpose Variant
(Figure 1) provides protected maneuver for soldiers
alongside ABCT combat vehicles during tactical
operations and provides support to the infantry
squad during mounted/dismounted assault during
tactical operations. The GP variant accommodates
two crew and four soldiers and is reconfigurable to
carry one litter.
The M1284 Medical Evacuation variant supports
the ABCT integration of medical support and
casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) as an integrated
part of the networked combat forward formation,
enhancing the organic medics who ride with and

Source: United States Army Acquisition Support Center,
accompany cavalry units during mounted and
https://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/gcs-ampv/, accessed January
dismounted operations. Crew capacity is for three
18, 2021.
crewmembers,
and
a
reconfigurable
crew
compartment that accommodates four litter
Program Status
casualties, six ambulatory (sitting) casualties, or a
The AMPV is produced by BAE Systems in York, PA. On
combination of two litter and three ambulatory
January 25, 2019, the AMPV entered the low-rate initial
casualties.
production phase (LRIP). The Army originally planned for
acquiring a total of 2,907 AMPVs, with initial vehicle
The M1285 Medical Treatment (MT) variant
delivery in 2020. The AMPV program plans to replace
integrates advanced medical treatment in a mobile
2,897 M-113 vehicles at the brigade and below level within
surgery suite to the ABCT. The MT hosts four
the ABCT. There are an additional 1,922 M-113s
crewmembers, which includes a medic and
supporting non-ABCT affiliated units (referred to as
Physician Assistant or Unit Surgeon, and a
Echelons Above Brigade [EAB] units) that are not included
treatment table that can serve to carry one litter
in the Army’s modernization plan.
patient. The vehicle also hosts the capability for
onboard medical equipment for casualty care.
Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) is a programmatic
The M1286 Mission Command (MCmd) variant
decision made when manufacturing development is completed
is the cornerstone of the Army’s ABCT Network
and there is an ability to produce a small-quantity set of
Modernization Strategy. It takes advantage of
articles. It also establishes an initial production base and sets
increased size, weight, power, and cooling and
the stage for a gradual increase in the production rate to
provides a significant increase in Command,
allow for Ful -Rate Production (FRP) upon completion of
Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber,
Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E).
Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
Full-Rate Production (FRP) is a decision made that allows
capability. The variant
accommodates two
for government contracting for economic production
crewmembers, and three workstation operators, and
quantities fol owing stabilization of the system design and
its hosted network provides full Tactical Command
validation of the production process.
Post capabilities at brigade and battalion levels.
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link to page 2 The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV)
Testing Deficiencies and Production Problems
at that level until at least FY2027. Earlier AMPV program
During a limited user test (LUT) in FY2019, the
planning documents issued before the 2020 production
Department of Defense (DOD) Director of Operational Test
delay had reportedly called for an annual production rate of
and Evaluation (DOT&E) and the Army Test and
190 AMPVs per year by FY2024. Supposedly, reduced
Evaluation Command (ATEC) identified 24 items while
production rates and increased commodity prices have
testing prototype AMPVs that BAE needed to correct and
contributed to higher unit costs per vehicle. Unit price
have evaluated during the Initial Operational Test and
increases reportedly have also been attributed to strong
Evaluation (IOT&E) by the end of 2021. Reportedly, due to
inflationary pressures on commodity prices, reusable parts
BAE production challenges and effects of the Coronavirus
supply expended from vehicles during LRIP, and
Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, BAE did not meet
purchasing AMPVs at lower production rates.
the July 2020 first vehicle delivery date and was six to eight
months behind the original schedule to deliver vehicles to
Considerations for Congress
support AMPV IOT&E and live-fire test events. BAE
Oversight questions Congress could consider include the
reportedly delivered its first LRIP AMPV to the Army on
following:
August 31, 2020. In March 2023, it was noted by DOD that
the AMPV FRP decision was expected sometime in
M-113s Provided to Ukraine and
FY2023.
AMPV Procurement
According to a March 3, 2023, DOD fact sheet on U.S.
AMPV Reaches Low-Rate Initial Production Rates
Security Assistance to Ukraine, 300 M-113s and 100
In October 2021, it was reported that monthly AMPV
armored medical treatment vehicles (likely M-113 variants)
production had reached contracted LRIP levels and early
have been pledged to Ukraine. Reportedly, the M-113s are
manufacturing troubles had subsided. Because of previous
to be taken from the Army National Guard. It is not known
delays, total AMPV production remained behind schedule,
if the Biden Administration will include additional M-113s
but BAE had planned to achieve full-rate production by the
in future Ukraine military aid packages.
end of FY2022. Reportedly, the Army now plans to reach
its AMPV FRP decision by the end of March 2023.
Reportedly, the Army plans to replace M-113s transferred
to Ukraine with AMPVs on a one-to-one basis, and the
Army to Begin Training with AMPV in Early 2023
Army was reportedly seeking additional funding in its
In October 2022, the AMPV Program Executive Officer
FY2024 budget request. An examination of the FY2024
(PEO) reportedly stated the first Army unit would begin
AMPV budget request at Table 1 does not appear to
training with the AMPV in January 2023. The PEO further
include additional funds for a one-to-one replacement.
noted the Army planned to equip the unit with 130 AMPVs
However, according to a March 14, 2023, Defense News
in January 2023 to facilitate training.
article, “First Unit Gets New Armored Multi-Purpose
Vehicles Replacing Old M113s,” the Army said it “will buy
AMPVs Delivered to First Army Unit
197 AMPVs total in FY2024 when combining base budget
According to a March 14, 2023, Army press release, the
and supplemental funding, which roughly doubles the
first AMPVs were delivered to the 1st Armored Brigade
amount of AMPVs funded in the base budget.”
Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, stationed at Fort
Stewart, GA, on March 13, 2023. The Army noted that this
Updated AMPV Program Plans
was the completion of that unit’s AMPV fielding.
As previously noted, the 2020 AMPV production delay
reportedly resulted in increased per vehicle costs and
FY2024 AMPV Budgetary Information
slower-than-planned-for annual production quantities. If
approved AMPV acquisition quantities remain at 2,897
Table 1. FY2024 AMPV Budget Request
vehicles, there could be cost implications resulting from
Total
higher per-vehicle costs as well as a longer production and
Funding
Total Request
Request
fielding timeline needed to equip Active and Army National
Category
($M)
(Qty.)
Guard ABCTs. In addition, possible accelerated AMPV
Procurement
$554.8
91
production to backfill M-113s provided to Ukraine could
TOTAL
$554.8
91
have an appreciable impact on the Army’s current AMPV
production and fielding plans. Given these considerations,
Source: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
Congress might decide to review the Army’s current
(Comptrol er)/Chief Financial Officer, Program Acquisition Cost by
AMPV program plans to determine if an update is required.
Weapon System: United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year
2024 Budget Request, March 2023, p. 3-4.

Notes: $M = U.S. dollars in mil ions; Qty. = FY2024 procurement
quantities.
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
AMPV Annual Production Rate
IF11741
Reportedly, by FY2024, AMPV production rates are
planned to increase to 131 vehicles per year and to continue


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


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11741 · VERSION 10 · UPDATED

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