BAE Systems has handed over two prototype Infantry Fighting Vehicles to the US Army, aiming to speed up delivery of advanced ground combat solutions as part of the Transformation in Contact (TiC) 2.0 initiative.
The new vehicles, developed at a cost of $17m from BAE Systems’ own research and development budget, use the chassis of the Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) as their foundation, according to the company.
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They were delivered in April this year, following a six-month development cycle.
Since then, the US Army’s TiC unit has subjected the vehicles, known as AMPV 30s, to comprehensive field trials, including live-fire exercises, to evaluate their potential on a modern battlefield.
BAE Systems ground maneuver futures vice president Bill Sheehy said: “Throughout this effort, our team demonstrated how we can integrate new design solutions in a time-effective and more cost-efficient manner for the [US] Army.”
The AMPV 30s feature a Kongsberg Medium Caliber Turret (MCT), the same turret architecture currently in use with the US Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle, as well as a common top plate designed for ease of integration with other mission modules.
The platform’s modular design is highlighted as enabling compatibility with more than 30 turret systems and facilitating the addition of new technologies.
Beyond enhanced firepower, the AMPV 30 prototypes also incorporate protection and situational awareness systems.
BAE Systems reports that the vehicles contain counter-uncrewed aircraft system (C-UAS) technology to counter drone threats, a target handoff system for multi-vehicle connectivity and battlefield coordination, and a 360-degree camera system to allow soldiers to monitor the environment from within the vehicle.
According to BAE Systems, these two prototypes are part of a broader push to advance the Army’s ground vehicle capabilities, marking the eighth turreted AMPV prototype produced by the company over the past two years in support of US Army modernisation requirements.
The TiC 2.0 initiative is part of the Army’s response to rapid technological changes on the battlefield. It is intended to accelerate the deployment of commercial off-the-shelf technologies and novel operational concepts in active units.
Experiments within the TiC framework include use of drones, loitering munitions, mortars, and a range of sensor equipment.
