On December 23, the Pentagon summed up the results of the next tender, the purpose of which is to develop, build and supply new armored vehicles for the ground forces. Over the next few years, it is planned to replace the outdated M113 armored personnel carriers and vehicles based on it in a number of divisions. The construction of the new equipment will be carried out by BAE Systems, the project of which was selected as the winner of the competition.
The AMPV (Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle) program was launched in the spring of 2013. Its purpose is to replace the M113 armored personnel carrier and equipment based on it in the armored brigades of the ground forces. 2897 obsolete machines of several types are subject to replacement. The total cost of the armored vehicles planned for the order should reach $ 13 billion. For this money, it is planned to purchase about 2,900 vehicles in the configuration of an armored personnel carrier, self-propelled mortar, ambulance, etc. Applications for participation in the tender were submitted by BAE Systems, General Dynamics and Navistar Defense.
BTR M113
BAE Systems proposed a modification to the existing M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, General Dynamics put up a tracked version of the Stryker armored personnel carrier for the competition, and Navistar Defense presented a project to modernize the MaxxPro wheeled armored car. For a number of reasons, the last project quickly dropped out of the competition, which is why only two participants continued the struggle.
A prototype of an armored medical vehicle based on the M2 Bradley BMP as part of the BAE Systems proposal under the US Army AMPV program. In the background BMP M2A3 Bradley (c) BAE Systems
During the competition, the customer several times adjusted the requirements for promising armored vehicles. The result of these changes in May 2014 was the refusal of General Dynamics from further participation in the work. The reason for withdrawing from the competition was the updated requirements for the AMPV machine, which, it was alleged, were drawn up in such a way that the winner of the competition was to be a machine from BAE Systems. This reduction in the number of competitors did not affect the further course of the program. On December 23, the Pentagon announced the quite expected result of the tender: BAE Systems will be engaged in the design and production of armored vehicles of the AMPV family.
As a result of the tender, BAE Systems received the first contract, according to which, over the next 52 months, it must build and test 29 AMPV pre-production vehicles in all five required modifications. In addition to the contract, there is an option to build the first production batch of 289 armored vehicles. BAE Systems will receive $ 382 million for the implementation of the signed contract. The option for the first batch of production cars will bring her about 800 million more.
While the specialists of the executing company are preparing to start mass production of armored vehicles, the Pentagon is making plans for the pace and cost of production. After the completion of the construction of the first batch of 289 vehicles, it is planned to deploy full-scale serial production at a rate of up to 300 vehicles per year. Thus, the entire fleet of decommissioned M113 armored personnel carriers and vehicles based on them will be replaced within ten years. The total cost of such a replacement is estimated at approximately $ 13 billion.
To participate in the AMPV program, BAE Systems developed a project called RHB (Reconfigurable Height Bradley). As a basis for new armored vehicles, it was proposed to use the Bradley infantry fighting vehicles available in the army and in storage. Until the mid-nineties, the US armed forces received more than 6,700 M2 and M3 Bradley BMPs. About 2 thousand of these machines are currently in storage and are not used. The RHB project involves the removal of equipment from storage and its refinement for further return to the troops in a new capacity.
Alteration of basic infantry fighting vehicles into new types of equipment implies the introduction of a number of changes in the design and composition of the equipment of the machines. So, the power plant, transmission and chassis of the base "Bradley", related to the early modifications, should be updated in accordance with the modernization project M2A3. At the same time, the machines are supposed to be equipped with a 600 hp Cummins VTA-903T diesel engine, an L-3 Combat Propulsion Systems HMPT-500 transmission and an updated suspension. The fuel system of the vehicle is also undergoing modifications: the internal tanks are removed outside the armored hull and are located in the rear of the vehicle.
To increase the level of protection of the crew and units from small arms and enemy artillery, it is proposed to mount additional steel modules over the base aluminum armor. Similarly, additional protection of the bottom from explosive devices is provided. Installation of additional means of dynamic protection is possible. An interesting innovation of the RHB project is the so-called. Floating Floor - a special design of the hull bottom and the floor of the habitable volume, capable of absorbing some of the explosion energy under the track or the bottom of the vehicle.
One of the main changes reflected in the name of the project is the dismantling of the turret and the use of a new roof for the combat and airborne compartment. Such a roof allows to increase the available volume inside the enclosure, inside which the necessary equipment can be placed. In addition, it is proposed to perform it in the form of a removable module, which makes it relatively easy to prepare the upgraded machines for operation, as well as to quickly change the configuration and, as a consequence, the purpose of a particular AMPV.
In the course of the further implementation of the AMPV program, the Pentagon wants to receive armored vehicles of five types:
- GPV (General Purpose Vehicle - "General Purpose Vehicle") - a basic armored personnel carrier with a crew of two and a landing party of six. Must carry its own weapons and be fitted with a standard roof height. In the early stages of the program, it was argued that the troops needed 520 of these vehicles;
- MEV (Medical Evacuation Vehicle) - a medical evacuation vehicle with a crew of three. Inside the habitable volume, increased by means of a modular roof, it is supposed to accommodate up to 6 lying or up to 4 sitting wounded. The machine must carry a set of medical equipment. It is planned to purchase 790 units of such equipment;
- MTV (Medical Treatment Vehicle) - a medical ambulance with a crew of four and a place for one lying wounded. A habitable compartment with a modular roof should house a set of equipment necessary for first aid. Troops require 216 vehicles of this type;
- MCV (Mortar Carrier Vehicle) - self-propelled mortar without a special roof module. The fighting compartment should contain a 120-mm mortar and ammunition load of 69 minutes. The crew of the vehicle consists of a driver, a commander and two mortars. 386 of these machines will be ordered;
- MCmd (Mission Command) - command vehicle. The manned compartment of increased height should contain communication and control equipment, as well as two operators. It is planned to order about 1000 vehicles of this type.
In the near future, BAE Systems will receive the first M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, which will soon be refitted in accordance with the AMPV / RHB project. The work is planned to be carried out at the company's plant in York, Pennsylvania. Part of the work will be carried out by military specialists from the Red River Arsenal (Texas).
52 months have been allocated for the first stage of work under the program. Thus, tests of pre-production cars should be completed by 2019. By the end of the decade, it is planned to deploy full-scale serial production of new armored vehicles. As a result, over the next 5-10 years, the armored brigades of the US ground forces will receive about 3 thousand new armored vehicles, as well as return to service a large number of infantry fighting vehicles that are in storage and idle.
At the end of last year, it became known that after the AMPV competition, the United States military department may start a similar tender, the purpose of which will be to replace almost 2,000 more M113 vehicles and equipment based on them. This technique is used in units above the brigade level, and no longer fully satisfies the military. To replace the existing M113 and other machines, a new program similar to AMPV could be started.
The similarity of the premises of these two programs and the types of technology to be replaced can lead to interesting consequences. It is quite possible that General Dynamics and BAE Systems will again take part in the competition for the creation of armored vehicles to replace the "brigade" M113. In addition, it cannot be ruled out that the situation with specific requirements for a promising car will repeat itself, because of which General Dynamics will be forced to refuse to participate in the tender or will not apply at all.
Details of the proposed replacement of armored vehicles in brigade-level units are still unknown. The AMPV program, in turn, has moved to a new stage. Specialists of BAE Systems in the coming years must complete the design work and prepare 29 prototype machines for various purposes. The successful completion of this order will allow the company to continue working under the AMPV program and earn about $ 13 billion, as well as provide orders for one of its plants for several years to come.
