US Army Awards AMPV to BAE Systems, Future Fights Loom

[buglerbilly]

By PAUL McLEARY 8:12 p.m. EST December 23, 2014

WASHINGTON — The US Army surprised no one by awarding BAE Systems a contract on Dec. 23 potentially worth $1.2 billion to begin building the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV).

BAE was the only contractor still in the running for the program after one-time competitor General Dynamics Land Systems pulled out of the competition in May, complaining that the requirements the Army drew up unfairly favored the tracked Bradley Fighting Vehicle derivative that BAE Systems was submitting.

EDITED........

Article here: Army Awards AMPV to BAE Systems, Future Fights Loom

As they say, not unexpected and good win for BAE. GD is still politically trying to manipulate a Split buy between wheeled STRYKER and the BAE Tracked AMPV ..........personally, I don't see that happening in this instance...........

Potentially, it could be of interest to us as to what BAE eventually arrives at............

Regards, BUG

 

[Waylander]

Good decision!

GCV seems to be in the slow track and the M2 and M3 Bradleys are likely to remain in service for some time to come. The M109A6PIM also inherits some commonality with the Bradley chassis.

All one needs for the simple APC and specialist vehicle role is an armoured box on tracks and a Bradley derived vehicle is just that without any development hassles and with the added bonus of commonality with a large fleet of other vehicles in service.

As for splitting the buy with Stryker hulls. Aren't there already command and mortar Strykers in service with the SBCTs? Can't see them being of any use to the IBCTs or HBCTs.

 

[Feanor]

There should be 4-digit quantities of Bradleys in storage. Are they going to be re-manufacturing those, or producing new APCs from scratch?

Also do we think this outcome will affect the EAB contract for the M113 replacement? Or will the two be decided independently of each other?

 

[buglerbilly]

There should be 4-digit quantities of Bradleys in storage. Are they going to be re-manufacturing those, or producing new APCs from scratch?

Also do we think this outcome will affect the EAB contract for the M113 replacement? Or will the two be decided independently of each other?

The BAE proposal is based around re-manufacture of excess US Army stock.

This has little influence on any other existing programme in Europe or the USA. GCV is independent and pretty much a dead duck at the moment, the funding being used to reinforce AMPV as more critical and easier to successfully achieve................another reason why Tracked Stryker was/is a no-go.

Australia will have some interesting tracked vehicle programmes to choose from, as well as wheeled..............

Regards, BUG

 

[aussienscale]

Just curious on peoples thoughts on this decisions impact on Land 400 for the Australian Army ? Abe, AD, Raven ? don't profess to know a lot of where we are up too with this

Cheers