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.
Ehen you look at this you cannot beleave we ended up with Ajax! We could have bought a version of this and had it running in a fraction of the time for less money. I also would not have iinjured its crews!
Ditch Ajax, it’s faulty and noone has confidence in it. Build these in UK asap
This AMPV and Ajax are designed.for different roles.
Ajax is an armoured reconnaissance vehicle for front line service. For that role, it needs good armour protection, firepower, mobility and speed.
The AMPV is an armoured battlefield support vehicle (ABSV), to provide protected mobility.for combat support and CSS troops – sapper, signals, REME repair sections, artillery AOPs, command, field ambulance, etc. In these roles, it needs to accommodate at least 10 personnel, commander, driver and 8 discounts, so will be larger than the Ajax Ares version. It not there to do front line combat with enemy armoured vehicles or fire support units, so needs armour protection against small arms fire, shrapnel and mines and a machine gun for self-defence.
It will inevitably need.some protection against drones, whether an APS, soft kill, laser or simply bolt-on protective cage. But the moment you start adding a 30mm cannon, heavier armour etc, it is going to turn into an expensive infantry fighting vehicle which is unaffordable in the large numbers needed for the ABSV role.
This AMPV could be a good replacement for our aged FV432 Bulldog ABSV, if it could be procured at an acceptable price (always an issue with anything from BAES).
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The chassis is based on the Bradley. I guess a lot of the roles suggested called also be carried out using the Patria 6×6 CAVS..