BAE Systems Successfully Tests AMPV Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System Prototype

Friday - January 26 2024, 21:16 UTC - 9 months ago

During a live fire exercise, BAE Systems successfully tested its AMPV Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System prototype, jointly developed with Moog. The system showed its ability to engage with ground targets and use a slew-to-cue functionality. The AMPV program is designed to be modular and can be adapted for various missions. The US Army received its first AMPVs in 2020 and the C-UAS variant will be further upgraded before being offered to the Army.

During a live fire exercise, the company reports that BAE Systems successfully tested its Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) prototype. The test assessed the detection, tracking, identification, and defeat of stationary and moving aerial and ground targets in recent live-fire tests. The variant was jointly developed with Moog.

The system was tested during realistic battlefield scenarios at the Big Sandy range in Kingman, Arizona. During the tests, the AMPV C-UAS prototype showed its ability to accurately detect, track, identify, defeat, or turn off stationary and moving aerial and ground targets. The exercise demonstrated the turret's capability to engage with ground targets and use a slew-to-cue functionality to aim at stationary and moving small drones with 30mm proximity rounds.

"From the earliest combat capability concept stage of the AMPV program, we intentionally designed a modular and flexible configuration to provide an adaptable and ready-for-growth platform for the warfighter," said Bill Sheehy, BAE Systems AMPV program director. "In just over one year, our successful collaboration with Moog on the C-UAS prototype showcased the art of the possible of what a rapid response from leading industry providers can drive. When it comes to setting the tone for future integration at a higher standard and better pace for Soldiers, this is just the beginning of what you'll see from the AMPV," he added.

In 2020, the US Army received the first AMPVs from BAE Systems. These vehicles were meant to replace the outdated Cold War fighting vehicles. However, the delivery of AMPVs was more than just a replacement. It also marked the introduction of a modular armored vehicle system that enables the Army to customize the AMPV for various purposes. From carrying personnel to serving as a mobile surgical operating theater, the AMPV can be modified quickly for different roles.

The test follows the turret showcased during October's Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting & Exposition. This prototype used the same chassis as the existing variants in the family of vehicles (FoV) but with key enhancements provided by BAE Systems' External Mission Equipment Package (ExMEP) top plate. ExMEP has been developed to integrate future technologies rapidly into the AMPV. It can adapt to over 30 turret systems, including the US Army's Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) turret, which has already been validated.

In the case of the recently tested prototype, the Moog Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP) turret was configured on the ExMEP for the AMPV C-UAS prototype.

"The fully-integrated mission capability demonstrated in this RIwP equipment package on AMPV is ready now and poised to meet the current and future needs of our warfighters," said Brandon Gollwitzer, Moog Inc. Turreted Weapon Systems general manager, United States.

Going forward, Moog will supply and integrate the C-UAS weapon system with Leonardo DRS' Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radars (MHR), C2 systems, and Northrop Grumman's XM914 30mm cannon, all mounted on the AMPV. This specific turret employs a slew-to-cue technique to leverage the MHR. Moving forward, the AMPV C-UAS variant will be further upgraded as BAE Systems and Moog calibrate the systems before offering the same to the Army.