BAE Systems has delivered two 30mm-armed Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle prototypes to a US Army Transformation in Contact unit, with the vehicles now undergoing field evaluation and live-fire testing after being developed in six months, according to the company.

The two concept infantry fighting vehicles, known as AMPV 30s, were delivered to the US Army in April for its Transformation in Contact 2.0 initiative. BAE Systems funded their development with $17 million of internal research and development money, using the existing AMPV chassis as the basis for the design. Since delivery, soldiers have put the vehicles through field evaluations intended to compare their performance with operational requirements, including live-fire testing.

Bill Sheehy, vice president of BAE Systems’ Ground Maneuver futures, said: “Our mission was speed and innovation, and we delivered beyond expectations. With today’s battlefield evolving faster than ever, it’s paramount that Soldiers have the capabilities they need to win the fight. Throughout this effort, our team demonstrated how we can integrate new design solutions in a time-effective and more cost-efficient manner for the Army.”

Both vehicles use a common top plate fitted with the Kongsberg Medium Caliber Turret, a remotely operated system already in production for the US Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle. BAE Systems said the AMPV 30 design also incorporates counter-uncrewed aircraft system equipment, a target hand-off system allowing information to be shared between vehicles and a 360-degree camera arrangement intended to give crews external visibility while remaining under armour.

The company has designed the AMPV around a modular open architecture and says its common top plate can accept more than 30 different turret systems and mission equipment packages. The two 30mm vehicles bring the number of turreted AMPV prototypes funded by BAE Systems over the past two years to eight, as the company explores different configurations for future US Army requirements.

The AMPV family was originally developed to replace the US Army’s ageing M113 armoured personnel carriers, but BAE Systems is now using the chassis as the basis for a wider range of configurations. The current 30mm prototypes are being used to examine how additional firepower, drone defence, networking and improved situational awareness can be introduced onto the platform without developing an entirely new vehicle.