The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV)
Background
The Army Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) is
the replacement for the M113 family of vehicles within the Armored Brigade Combat Team [ABCT], comprising approximately 30 percent of its tracked vehicle fleet. The Army's worldwide fleet of AMPVs will include nearly 3,000 vehicles delivered within the next 20 years.
There are five planned AMPV variants:
The M1283 General Purpose (GP) 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 accompany cavalry units during mounted and dismounted operations. Crew capacity is for three crew members, and a reconfigurable crew compartment that accommodates four litter casualties, six ambulatory (sitting) casualties, or a combination of two litter and three ambulatory casualties.
The M1285 Medical Treatment (MT) variant integrates advanced medical treatment in a mobile surgery suite to the ABCT. The MT hosts four crew members, which includes a medic and physician Assistant or unit surgeon, and a treatment table that can serve to carry one litter patient. The vehicle also hosts the capability for onboard medical equipment for casualty care.
The M1286 Mission Command [MCmd] variant … takes advantage of increased size, weight, power and cooling, and provides a significant increase in command, control, computers, communications, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability. The variant accommodates two crew members, and three workstation operators, and its hosted network provides full tactical command post capabilities at brigade and battalion levels.
The M1287 Mortar Carrier (MC) provides immediate, responsive, heavy mortar fire support to the ABCT in the conduct of fast paced offensive operations by utilizing the M121 Mortar System and M95 Mortar Fire Control System. The MC variant accommodates four Soldiers, one vehicle crew member and three mortar crew members.
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Source: Erin Dunn, "Army delivers newest combat vehicle," U.S. Army, March 14, 2023, https://www.army.mil/article/264804/army_delivers_newest_combat_vehicle. |
Program Activities
The AMPV is produced by BAE Systems in York, PA. On January 25, 2019, the AMPV entered the low-rate initial production (LRIP) phase. The Army originally planned for acquiring a total of 2,907 AMPVs, with initial vehicle delivery in 2020. The AMPV program plans to replace 2,897 M-113 vehicles at the brigade and below level within the ABCT.
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Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) is a programmatic decision made when manufacturing development is completed and there is an ability to produce a small-quantity set of articles. It establishes an initial production base and sets the stage for a gradual increase in the production rate to allow for full-rate production (FRP) on completion of Operational Test and Evaluation. FRP is a decision made allowing for government contracting for economic production quantities following stabilization of the system design and validation of the production process. |
Initial Testing Deficiencies and Production Problems
During a limited user test (LUT) in FY2019, the director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) and the Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) identified a number of 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. DOT&E noted that due to BAE production challenges and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, BAE did not meet the July 2020 first vehicle delivery date and was six to eight months behind the original schedule to deliver vehicles to support AMPV IOT&E and live-fire test events. BAE reportedly delivered its first LRIP AMPV to the Army on August 31, 2020.
AMPV Reaches LRIP Rates
In October 2021, it was reported that monthly AMPV production had reached contracted LRIP levels and early manufacturing troubles had subsided. Due to previous delays, total AMPV production remained behind schedule, but BAE had planned to achieve full-rate production (FRP) by the end of FY2022.
AMPVs Delivered to First Army Unit
According to a March 14, 2023, Army press release, the first AMPVs were delivered to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, stationed at Fort Stewart, GA, on March 13, 2023. The Army noted that this was the completion of that unit's AMPV fielding.
Army Awards FRP Contract
On September 1, 2023, the Army reportedly awarded the AMPV FRP contract to BAE. The total award value for the initial vehicle order was $797 million with additional options, for a potential total contract value of $1.6 billion.
Program Status
According to DOT&E's FY2025 Annual Report,
The Army intends to submit an updated TEMP [test and evaluation master plan] and LFT&E [live fire test and evaluation] test plan to DOT&E for approval in 2QFY26. Live fire testing is scheduled to commence in 3QFY26 to collect data on the survivability and repairability of the CRT [composite rubber track], and to assess post-threat impact on the AMPV's mobility. As part of live fire testing, the Army intends to conduct a STP [soldier touch point] to collect soldier feedback on installing and operating a damaged track with a battlefield damage repair kit. DOT&E intends to observe the live fire testing and to publish a classified LFT&E report in 1QFY27 to inform the Army's engineering change proposal production cut-in decision scheduled for 2QFY27.
FY2027 AMPV Budget Request
According to Army Budget documents, the Army is requesting $1.2 billion in procurement funding that "supports the procurement of 196 Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles (AMPVs) to improve mobility, lethality, network communication/interoperability and protection necessary to move personnel and perform key mission roles on the battlefield within the ABCT."
Potential Oversight Issues for Congress
Oversight questions Congress could consider include the following:
AMPV Fielding Schedule
- What units in the Active Component (AC) and Army National Guard (ARNG) have received their full complement of AMPVs?
- For those units that have yet to receive their AMPVs, what is the timeline for fielding AMPVs to these units?
- Does the Army plan to include AMPVs in pre-positioned stocks? If so, how many AMPVs are to be allocated to pre-positioned stocks?
AMPV Vulnerability to Anti-Tank Systems and Uncrewed Aerial Systems, Attack Drones, and Loitering Munitions
According to the President's Budget FY2024 Selected Acquisition Report (SAR), "The AMPV will provide a coordinated suite of preemptive, active, reactive, passive, or a combination thereof, protection capabilities against identified, emerging, and future threats." While this is a stated requirement, it is unclear if the AMPV is to have an organic active protection system (APS) that can detect, track, and neutralize anti-tank threats by means of kinetic and passive countermeasures and an organic counter uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) capability, as well. While some have suggested that UASs, loitering munitions, and one-way attack drones could make armored fighting vehicles (AFVs) obsolete, others contend new technologies are needed to improve AFV survivability against UASs and other aerial systems. Congress might examine the Army's approach to provide the AMPV with organic protection against anti-tank and uncrewed aerial threats.