WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – BAE Systems has delivered the first prototype Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle, designed to replace the US Army's Vietnam War-era M113 fleet, the defense contractor said in a release.
"BAE Systems today rolled out the first prototype Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) to the US Army at the company’s York facility located in the US state of Pennsylvania," Thursday’s release stated. "The AMPV is a fully modern, highly flexible vehicle that includes five variants and is designed to replace the Vietnam War-era M113 family of vehicles."
The AMPV is based on designs for the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle and M109A7 Self-Propelled Howitzer.
In December 2014, BAE was awarded an Army contract worth up to $1.2 billion for engineering, manufacturing, development and initial production of the AMPV, the release noted.