Securely armored - Rheinmetall AMPV

With the Armoured Multi Purpose Vehicle (AMPV), Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles offers a highly mobile, compact, excellently protected, and extremely versatile vehicle for worldwide deployments. At this year's MSPO, RMMV presented for the first time a variant tailored to Polish requirements, which is particularly suitable for special forces, as well as other regular units.
The AMPV was developed in an industrial partnership with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). From the beginning, purely military requirements determined the development, incorporating the experiences of armed forces from the ISAF mission in Afghanistan and other missions worldwide. The AMPV is currently the best-protected vehicle in its class. It has been extensively and successfully tested by several procurement authorities and is ready for series production.
Different weapon stations can be integrated into the AMPV. The spectrum ranges from manned turret mounts to remotely controlled weapon stations. Possible armaments include 40mm grenade machine guns or heavy machine guns in caliber .50 BMG. The AMPV special forces variant exhibited at the MSPO carries a remotely controlled weapon station from the Polish company Tarnow with a mounted heavy machine gun.

Currently, the APMV is the best-protected vehicle in its class, air-transportable, and flexible in armament.

With an empty weight of 7.8 tons, the AMPV offers a payload of over two tons. According to the needs of special forces, the storage volume has been optimized, allowing ample equipment to fit easily. However, the vehicle remains extremely compact with a length of 5,660 mm, a width of 2,300 mm, and a height of 2,180 mm. This allows the AMPV to be air-transported on medium transport aircraft such as the C-160, C-130, or A400M. Heavy transport helicopters like the CH-47 and CH-53 can transport it as an external load.
Thanks to its powerful 272 hp/200 kW diesel engine, the AMPV reaches speeds of up to 110 km/h. An automated gearshift, automated differential lock management, the robust chassis with individual wheel suspension and double wishbones, and a tire pressure regulation system additionally contribute to excellent mobility even in rough terrain.

The range is 700 km on paved roads. The AMPV can handle inclines with an angle up to 60 percent and side slopes up to 40 percent. The fording depth is 850 mm, the trench crossing capability is 750 mm. The AMPV can tow a trailer weighing up to 3,500 kg. The vehicle is operational in a temperature range from -46°C to +55°C. Two 150 A alternators supply power to the vehicle.
In the excellently protected self-supporting armored steel passenger cell, five fully equipped soldiers can fit. The passenger cell can be adapted to higher threat levels through adaptive protection modules. Modern armored glass windows provide an excellent field of view with maximum protection. The powerful heating and air conditioning system, as well as an ABC protection ventilation, ensure the endurance of the AMPV on the battlefield. A ram protection was also integrated for offensive driving typical of special forces.
If necessary, the protection can be further increased by integrating additional components. These include the Acoustic Sniper Localization System (ASLS) and the Situational Awareness System (SAS) for 360-degree surveillance around the vehicle.

Rheinmetall's innovative Rapid Obscurant System "ROSy", can create dynamic fog walls in addition to spontaneous, large-scale, and multispectral line-of-sight interruptions, providing long-lasting protection even to moving objects, unlike traditional fog protection systems. The multi-mission capability of the protection system with 360° all-around protection guarantees defense against multiple attacks (stream and wave attacks). Through effective screening measures in the visual and infrared spectrum, including integrated IR jamming and decoying effects, all TV, EO, IR, IIR, LASER, and SACLOS-guided weapons can be effectively repelled.
A modern Battlefield Management System connects all these systems and provides excellent leadership capabilities. The open architecture of the vehicle's electrical and electronic systems allows weapon systems and kit components to be easily integrated, and new devices can be connected through "plug and play."

Rheinmetall Defence online: www.rheinmetall-defence.com