BAE Systems, in collaboration with Moog, has successfully tested its Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) prototype, demonstrating its potential to bolster ground forces against the growing threat of aerial drones. This live-fire exercise, conducted at the Big Sandy range in Kingman, Arizona, marks a significant step forward in integrating C-UAS capabilities into the AMPV platform, known for its modularity and adaptability.
The C-UAS prototype showcased its ability to detect, track, and engage both stationary and moving drones, utilizing a 30mm proximity cannon mounted on the Moog Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP) turret. This system, also common to the U.S. Army’s M-SHORAD system, highlights the AMPV’s potential for seamless integration with existing C-UAS solutions.
“From the outset, we designed the AMPV with a modular and flexible configuration to accommodate future growth and adaptation,” said Bill Sheehy, BAE Systems AMPV program director. “This successful C-UAS prototype, developed in just over a year with Moog, exemplifies the art of the possible when industry collaborates effectively.”
The key to the AMPV’s adaptability lies in its External Mission Equipment Package (ExMEP) top plate. This innovative design allows for the rapid integration of various mission modules, including the C-UAS system showcased in the recent test. BAE Systems emphasizes the ExMEP’s ability to accommodate over 30 different turret systems, showcasing the AMPV’s potential for future specialization and mission-specific configurations.
“The fully-integrated mission capability demonstrated in this RIwP equipment package on AMPV is ready now and poised to meet the current and future needs of our warfighters,” said Brandon Gollwitzer, Moog Inc.’s Turreted Weapon Systems general manager.
The AMPV program, currently in full-rate production for five different variants, is actively being deployed to Armored Brigade Combat Teams. This successful C-UAS demonstration underlines the platform’s potential to evolve and adapt to meet the evolving battlefield landscape, particularly in the face of the ever-growing drone threat.
This development holds significant implications for the future of air defense strategies. The AMPV C-UAS prototype demonstrates the potential for ground forces to possess highly mobile and adaptable counter-drone capabilities, offering a layer of protection closer to the battlefield and potentially complementing existing air defense systems.
As the AMPV program continues to evolve and incorporate new technologies, its role in shaping future air defense strategies and enhancing the capabilities of ground forces will be worth monitoring closely. This successful C-UAS demonstration is a testament to the AMPV’s potential and paves the way for further innovation in the realm of mobile and modular ground-based air defense systems.
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