BAE Systems is investing in a series of new capability kits for the U.S. Army’s Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) to accelerate innovation in ground combat systems, according to a press release.
The company will use its own funding and the AMPV’s modular chassis to develop advanced prototypes with interchangeable kits. These will integrate mission-ready effectors for tasks such as counter-unmanned aerial system detection and targeting, ground autonomy, and unmanned turrets. BAE Systems said the aim is to give soldiers rapidly deployable technologies that keep pace with evolving threats.
“The AMPV is a proving ground for the future of tracked ground combat,” said Bill Sheehy, Ground Manoeuvre product line director for BAE Systems. “The brand-new platform is coming off a hot production line, and the proven hull is one of the most durable building blocks being delivered to the U.S. Army today. We’re committed to working alongside other technology disruptors at a pace that enhances AMPV’s capability options now, so it’s available for Soldiers in a moment’s notice.”
The AMPV kits will build on earlier integration work that has included five turreted prototypes, such as a Modular Turreted Mortar and 30mm unmanned weapon systems, all using a modular open systems approach. This collaborative method is designed to allow new technologies to be added more easily to the vehicle platform.
Sheehy added: “We have a lot of work ahead of us for what we’ve set out to do this year, but just like a formation operating on the battlefield, collaboration fuels success. This might not be a traditional approach to innovating for warfighters, but the AMPV isn’t your average combat vehicle either.”
Details of the industry partners involved and specific kit configurations will be released later in the summer. BAE Systems said the rollout of the AMPV capability kit series will continue throughout the year.
