U.S. Army plans to replace its fleet of M113 tracked APC with new armored multi-purpose vehicle

Defence & Security News - United States
 
U.S. Army plans to replace its fleet of M113 tracked APC with new armored multi-purpose vehicle.
The U.S. Army plans to replace the M113's capability with the armored multi-purpose vehicle, or AMPV. The M113 armored personnel carrier has been in the Army since 1960 and Ierardi said the vehicle has already seen its last days as an operational vehicle. While a number of M113s remain in the Army inventory, the service has stopped using them operationally.
     
The U.S. Army plans to replace the M113's capability with the armored multi-purpose vehicle, or AMPV. The M113 armored personnel carrier has been in the Army since 1960 and Ierardi said the vehicle has already seen its last days as an operational vehicle. While a number of M113s remain in the Army inventory, the service has stopped using them operationally. U.S. Army 744th Engineer Company soldiers operate an M113 armored personnel carrier with a mine-clearing line charge (MCLC) in tow on July 24, 2014 on Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif.
     
"It is the Army's intent, and it is under execution now to move away from M113, which brings into discussion the armored multi-purpose vehicle, the follow-on vehicle to the M113 variant," Ierardi said. "It's an important capability for the Army to replace: the mobility that the M113s bring in the varied terrain that our armored and tracked vehicles operate. So AMPV is an important program for us to replace the M113s." The Army announced in late 2014 that that BAE Systems Land & Armaments, L.P. was selected for the engineering and manufacturing development, or EMD, contract for the AMPV. The initial award is for a 52-month base term, valued at about $382 million. During that time, BAE Systems will produce 29 vehicles.

In December 2014, the U.S. Army announced, Dec. 23, that BAE Systems Land & Armaments, L.P. was selected for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development, or EMD, contract for the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle, or AMPV.

During the 52-month EMD phase, Program Executive Office, or PEO, Ground Combat Vehicle,or GCV, BCE Systems will develop "an affordable, integrated system" to meet the Army's critical requirements. The Army will take the 29 vehicles produced in this phase and "put them through rigorous developmental and operational testing to ensure they are effective and suitable for today's mechanized warrior," an official said.

The current AMPV program will only replace 2,897 M113 vehicles at the brigade and below level within the ABCT. There are an additional 1,922 M113s supporting echelons above brigade.
     
The U.S. Army plans to replace the M113's capability with the armored multi-purpose vehicle, or AMPV. The M113 armored personnel carrier has been in the Army since 1960 and Ierardi said the vehicle has already seen its last days as an operational vehicle. While a number of M113s remain in the Army inventory, the service has stopped using them operationally. AMPV (Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle) project of BAE Systems at AUSA 2013 defense exhibition in Washington D.C.