AMPV – Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle

A New Synthesis of Mobility and Protection

for Command-Control and Operational Military Vehicles

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Today’s operational reality is characterised by

two vital, but diametrically opposed develop-

ments. More and more often, international

armed forces under alliance command are

taking responsibility for peace keeping or

peace enforcing missions.

At the same time, the troops are in an asym-

metrical fight against a seemingly irrational

opponent whose strategy deliberately aims

at inflicting maximum casualties and whose

hit and run tactics, IEDs, mines and suicide

bombs are intended to do just that.

These developments have led to rethinking

conventional battle concepts in which the

protection of friendly forces has taken on

a new priority. In routine daily operations

– patrols or at checkpoints – high mobility

is not a substitute for protection. So future

vehicle types must also be designed to pro-

vide protection against mines and IEDs with-

out sacrificing high mobility.

The technical dilemma is how to combine a

high level of protection, which always in -

creases weight, with high ground mobility and

air transportability, which require the light-

est possible design. To solve this problem,

the AMPV’s design makes use of long years

of experience in military vehicle produc-

Protection – New Defi nition for an Old Need

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tion combined with the latest innovations in

composite materials to develop armour that

overmatches the threat. Germany is a world

leader in this technology.

The planned replacement of soft skinned

wheeled vehicles for the armed forces – such

as the German Army’s planned acquisition

of the GFF (Armoured Command-Control and

Operations Vehicle) – means that opera-

tional risks must be countered by an optimal

mix of mobility and protection.

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Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV)

The new concept for protected class 1 and 2 command and

operations vehicles from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall Defence

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Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall

Defence have teamed to develop the AMPV

(Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle), a new

family of vehicles which represent an overall

concept for protected class 1 and 2 com-

mand and operational vehicles thus filling an

important need for the forces. Modularity and

growth potential of the AMPV family ensure

operational flexibility and long service life as

well as a previously unrivaled level of nation-

al participation and exportability. The AMPV

thus combines all customer requirements to

a degree unmatched in older vehicles.

Designed for German Bundeswehr require-

ments, the AMPV family:

combines the expertise of both German

companies’ long cooperation with the

Bundeswehr and exploits the many years

of experience in the development of

armoured vehicles such as PUMA and

BOXER, FUCHS/FOX and FENNEK, DINGO

and YAK, MUNGO and SERVAL

employs a single logistic concept for the

whole vehicle family to cover a wide range

of missions and complex customer

re quirements

meets the toughest operational require-

ments for mobility and ruggedness

achieves a level of protection that exceeds

the current requirements for GFF 1 and 2

has flexibly integrated systems and is

upgradeable for future requirements and

long service life.

The AMPV family consists of two vehicle

series: the smaller, highly manoeuvrable,

AMPV 1 makes an ideal liaison vehicle.

Beyond the AMPV 2 series has a higher level

of protection and increased payload capac-

ity. However, the whole family is based on a

single manufacturing concept and employs

the same technologies.

Both series have the following vehicle types:

Patrol vehicle – with an unprotected rear

load platform and Equipment carrier – which

has a completely enclosed armoured cargo

area.

A special patrol version of the AMPV 1 that

can be carried by a CH53 transport helicopter

is planned.

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AMPV Development – driven by Protection and Mobility

A 200 Kw high torque 3.2 litre diesel engine,

full time all-wheel drive, an automatic trans-

mission and automatic limited slip differen-

tials guarantee outstanding performance and

reduced driver stress under any conditions.

The AMPV 1 and AMPV 2 are very compact

and differ only slightly in height, length and

wheel base.

All vehicles in the family utilise identical

components in the relevant logistic areas.

Identical layout of interior spaces ensures

ease of operation and simplifies training and

logistic support of the whole vehicle family.

The AMPV family of vehicles is based on

KMW and Rheinmetall’s many years of expe-

rience in design and manufacture of military

vehicles.

The vehicle frame is a self-supporting ar-

moured steel housing with a ballistic liner.

The rugged lower body and reinforced cell

structure are optimised to defeat mines and

IEDs. Additional add-on armour modules

ensure the desired level of protection for any

version of the vehicle.

The AMPV family takes advantage of long

experience in its specially developed, robust

military suspension and drive train. The indi-

vidually suspended wheels and long suspen-

sion travel were adapted from the Boxer pro-

gramme and ensure high ground clearance.

In critical situations, the special combat

wheels with run flat tyres allow the quick

evacuation out of danger zones.

Modern armoured glass High level of protection

with a wide angle of view

Adaptable Add-On Armour Modules Quick response to new threats

Armoured Vehicle Body Level of protection adaptable

to threat environment

Reinforced Underbody and Wheel WellsImproved protection against mines and IEDs

Combat Tyres with Run Flat CapabilityEnables rapid evacuation of danger zones

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Five Arguments – One Answer

The AMPV is the ideal solution to the complex

requirements for the GFF 1 and 2

1. The AMPV Family

The AMPV family covers the GFF 1 and the GFF 2

classes with a single concept. It fulfils the

requirement for reducing the variety of vehicles

in the Armed Forces, improves support and

simplifies training.

2. Force-Specific Development

The AMPV family has been specially developed

for the demands of today’s out of area military

operations. There are no civilian components to

compromise protection or mobility. Specific mil-

itary requirements drove the optimisation of the

protective concept and design, the outstanding

mobility, the logistical concept and arrange-

ment of interior space, to enable the vehicle to

be tailored to the specific mission.

3. Available soon

The first prototype of the basic vehicle will

be completed within short time. Close after

testing, series production can begin. This

responds to the initiative of using demonstra-

tors in order to evaluate suitability for series

production and meets the military command

need for the earliest possible operational

availability.

4. High Level of Protection

The experience of KWM and Rheinmetall

in contemporary military armoured vehicle

development has been exploited in the

arrangement of the armour.

5. Modular Construction

The use of common components in the fam-

ily concept greatly increases modularity in

GFF1 and GFF2 class vehicles. The modular

principle enables an economical response to

evolving threats through the use of modified

armoured modules.

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG

Krauss-Maffei-Strasse 11 · 80997 Munich · GermanyTel. +49 89 8140-50 · Fax +49 89 8140-49 00www.kmweg.de

Rheinmetall AG · Corporate Sector Defence

Rheinmetall Platz 1 · 40476 Düsseldorf · GermanyTel. +49 211 473-01 · Fax +49 211 473-4746www.rheinmetall-defence.com