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