U.S. Army to Evaluate BAE Systems’ Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle Turreted Mortar Prototype

BAE Systems has delivered a prototype of the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) with unmanned turreted mortar capability to the U.S. Army for evaluation.

This prototype features the External Mission Equipment Package (ExMEP) top plate system, allowing for the easy installation of various turrets. The vehicle is equipped with the Patria NEMO remote-controlled 120mm turreted mortar system.

The collaborative effort involved the U.S. Army, BAE Systems, and KONGSBERG/Patria. Using the AMPV chassis as a base, the project aims to provide the Army with cost-effective options to deploy combat capabilities, including the Patria NEMO, more efficiently.

"The AMPV Turreted Mortar prototype originated from a capability discussion we had with the Army in 2022—the same year ExMEP was conceptualized with industry partners, and we anticipate its evaluation," said Bill Sheehy, BAE Systems AMPV program director.

Leveraging the ExMEP system, the AMPV Turreted Mortar prototype integrates the NEMO 120mm mortar system as an indirect and direct fire support platform suitable for multi-mission scenarios. This system enables Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact fire missions, allowing up to five mortar rounds to hit targets simultaneously in less than four seconds, whether the vehicle is stationary or in motion.

The AMPV Mortar Carrier variant, one of the five currently in production with the Army, comprises the legacy 120mm mortar system.

Over the next few months, the Army will subject the AMPV Turreted Mortar prototype to field evaluations to assess its capabilities in meeting soldiers' requirements on the battlefield.

This marks the second turreted AMPV prototype showcased by BAE Systems in the last three months. The other prototype features Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) capability, utilizing the ExMEP top plate.