New mortar AMPV variant prototype to make exhibition debut mid-2024

BAE Systems demonstrated its new counter unmanned aerial systems AMPV during a live fire in Kingman, Arizona. (BAE Systems)

The newly designed 120 mm mortar variant of the Armoured Multi Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) will make its debut at the Association of the United States Army's (AUSA's) Warfighter conference in July 2024, Bill Sheehy, AMPV programme director at BAE Systems told Janes on 30 November.

BAE Systems first told Janes in September that it was delivering the prototype for Patria's 120 mm New Mortar (NEMO) and Kongsberg turret programme in January 2024. The prototype is still on track for first delivery, and the army plans to perform a live-fire demonstration at the July conference to show off its progress, Sheehy said in an interview.

The prototype represents BAE System's first official foray into broadening AMPV configurations, which the company hopes will highlight the flexibility of the platform. The turret is attached to the vehicle using the Ex-MEP (Mission Equipment Package), which can accommodate most remotely operated weapons stations.

“There is a huge opportunity here to modernise and be able to emerge out there with the all the new capabilities that the army is going to require, and its allies are going to require,” he said.

BAE Systems also recently performed the first live-fire demonstration for the counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UASs) variant on 15 November, Sheehy said. The company was asked by the army to build the prototype for the mortar AMPV after the C-UAS variant was already in development, he added.