Army Readies Plan To Launch New Combat Vehicle Program -- The AMPV

摘要

The Army is preparing to kick off a big-ticket Pentagon acquisition effort next month - a new armored vehicle program to outfit its heavy brigades with a replacement for the Vietnam-era-designed Ml 13 vehicle, setting up a competition to build as many as 5,000 Armored Multipurpose Vehicles (AMPV). On Aug. 10, according to Army spokesman Matthew Hickman, Pentagon acquisition executive Ashton Carter is scheduled to consider the Army's request for a material development decision to effectively grant the AMPV a place on the Defense Department's roster of major procurement efforts. Carter also will consider a request to bypass the technology development phase of the acquisition cycle and begin the program at the engineering and manufacturing development phase. The Army's procurement target is 3,275 vehicles for its heavy brigades, Hickman said. "Echelons Above Brigade will involve follow-on decisions," he added.