The U.S. Army has already received more than 500 Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles (AMPVs), which are tracked armored fighting vehicles. This equipment is replacing the old M113 APCs, which could be transferred to Ukraine as military aid under the PURL initiative.
The supply figures were announced by the manufacturer of these vehicles, BAE Systems, which added that a total of 2,907 units are planned for purchase in transport, command, mortar, medical, and evacuation variants. This means that nearly one-sixth of this requirement has already been met.
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It should be noted that although the AMPV has been in production since 2018, the first delivery to the U.S. Army took place in the fall of 2022, with a full brigade set received in March 2023. That year, production shifted from small-scale to full-scale.
This corresponds to an annual output of approximately 131 units, which seems relatively small. Armored vehicle production in Western countries is generally at a similar level, although for the CV90, production is planned to increase to 250 units per year by 2026, and to 350 units per year in the future.
As for AMPVs, they can be described as "Bradleys without turrets," since this armored vehicle was developed based on an IFV. This ensures good performance in terms of both cross-country ability and personnel protection. At the same time, BAE is working on additional options, such as IFVs and even conversion to UGVs.
It is a good replacement for the M113, which appeared in 1960 and is still in service around the world. They have performed well on the battlefield, but over time, the aluminum hull's armor has proven increasingly inadequate.
As more AMPVs are delivered to the U.S. Army, older equipment is being freed up, which can be sent to the National Guard, placed in storage, or transferred to Ukraine. The latter option would help strengthen Ukraine’s Defense Forces, which face a constant shortage of armored vehicles.
Since the U.S. is not currently announcing any new military aid packages, the surplus M113s could potentially be acquired under the PURL program, if this option is approved. At the same time, the question arises whether this would be a rational choice, or if it would be better to spend the money on other priorities, such as Patriot air defense systems and their missiles.
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