Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle
The Armoured Multi Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) is a well-protected light armoured 4×4 vehicle that has been developed as a joint venture between Germany's Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). It was developed for the German Army's Protected Command and Function (GFF) Group 2 requirement.
| Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) | |
|---|---|
AMPV optimised for special forces role; the rear stowage compartment has been enlarged to meet specific Polish special forces requirements | |
| Type | Light armoured vehicle |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | German Army (evaluated) |
| Production history | |
| Designer | RMMV, KMW & Porsche |
| Designed | 2007 |
| Manufacturer | RMMV or KMW |
| Variants | Various role-specific variants available in special forces, command/control, reconnaissance and internal security |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 10,000 kg (GVWR; certified protection levels); 7800 kg (unladen) |
| Length | 5.66 m |
| Width | 2.3 m (without mirrors) |
| Height | 2.18 m (without armament) |
| Crew | Driver + up to 4 (configuration dependent) |
| Armor | Steel and composite appliqué. Classified, but scalable and upgradeable to suit prevailing threat level |
| Engine | Steyr M16SCI, 3.2-litre, 6-cylinder inline monoblock water-cooled EURO 3 compliant 4-stroke diesel developing 272 hp @ 4000 rpm and 610 Nm torque @ 1800 rpm |
| Payload capacity | 2200 kg (@ 10,000 kg GVWR and maximum certified protection level) |
| Transmission | ZF 6HP28 (automatic) with 6 forward and 1 reverse gears; 2-speed transfer case |
| Suspension | Independent suspension with double wishbones, dual coil-over shock absorbers per wheel station, hydraulic dampers |
Operational range | 435 mi (700 km) loaded |
| Maximum speed | 68 mph (109 km/h) |
Steering system | power-assisted (15 m turning circle) |
The overall design of the AMPV has moved forward from the Cold War thinking of previous generation wheeled armoured vehicles, and throughout it has been optimised for current asymmetric conflict operations. According to the manufacturer, right from the outset, purely military requirements dictated AMPV's design. In the process, the development team took systematic account of experience gained during the ISAF mission in Afghanistan and other operations worldwide. As a result, the AMPV is now the best-protected vehicle in its class anywhere.