The US Army’s 1st Cavalry Division has become the first formation to field prototypes of the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) equipped with a 30 mm cannon, the division announced on 30 April 2026.In a social media post, the division stated that its soldiers had taken delivery of the service’s initial AMPV 30 mm prototypes and are now integrating the new variant into the formation. The move, the division said, positions its troopers “leading the charge once again” in transforming how armored divisions fight. The AMPV, developed by BAE Systems, is the Army’s designated replacement for the long-serving M113 family of tracked armored vehicles. The baseline AMPV entered low-rate production in recent years and is fielded in five primary variants: general purpose, mortar carrier, mission command, medical evacuation, and medical treatment. The newly revealed 30 mm configuration adds a significant direct-fire capability that was not part of the original program of record.
Photographs released with the announcement show a standard AMPV hull fitted with a remote-controlled turret mounting a 30 mm automatic cannon. The turret, understood to be a Kongsberg Medium Caliber Turret (MCT) variant, is designed to fire programmable airburst ammunition, offering improved lethality against light armored targets, unmanned aerial systems, and personnel in defilade. An open commander’s hatch is visible in one image, consistent with current remote-weapon-station designs that retain manual override options. The delivery to the 1st Cavalry Division follows BAE Systems’ public unveiling of the armed AMPV prototype at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) 2024 exhibition. At that time the company highlighted the platform’s modular top-plate design, which allows rapid integration of different mission payloads without major hull modifications.
While the baseline AMPV was conceived primarily as a support and utility vehicle for Armored Brigade Combat Teams, the 30 mm variant gives commanders an additional organic firepower option within the formation. Analysts note that the upgrade could enhance the division’s ability to conduct independent operations against peer or near-peer threats that increasingly employ loitering munitions and light armored reconnaissance elements.No official timeline has been released for full-rate production or widespread fielding of the AMPV 30 mm configuration. The 1st Cavalry Division’s early involvement mirrors its recent selection to test the M1E3 Abrams and XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle prototypes later this year, underscoring the unit’s recurring role as the Army’s premier heavy armored test bed.
The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) is an American armored fighting vehicle that is replacing the M113 armored personnel carrier and family of vehicles in U.S. Army service. The AMPV was designed and produced by BAE Systems, and is based on the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The vehicles are to move as rapidly as the primary combat vehicles in an ABCT during unified land operations over multiple terrain sets with superior force protection, survivability, and mobility than the M113. They will support the M1 Abrams and M2/M3 Bradley to resupply the formation, conduct battle command functions, deliver organic indirect fires, provide logistics support and medical treatment, and perform medical and casualty evacuation to function as an integral part of the ABCT formation. The first AMPV prototype was rolled out in December 2016 Following a competitive bidding process, the first production vehicles were delivered 2020. The operational maintenance cost requirement of the AMPV is up to $90 per mile, compared to $58 per mile for the M113.
