US Army Unveils Autonomous AMPV Prototype with 2026 Demo Plan

Defense Feeds – The Autonomous AMPV Prototype is set to become a major step for the US Army as it moves to integrate autonomy into frontline forces, with testing planned in 2026.

Developed through a partnership between BAE Systems and Forterra, the vehicle combines armored survivability with advanced autonomous driving technology for future use in armored brigade combat teams (ABCTs).  

BAE and Forterra Drive New Vehicle Autonomy

On September 30, 2025, BAE Systems and Forterra confirmed their collaboration to build an autonomous version of the AMPV, marking the opening project in BAE’s new AMPV “capability kit series.”

This program is designed to let combat vehicles receive upgrades faster and more cost-effectively by enabling modular technology packages instead of long, rigid acquisition cycles.

Forterra is supplying its AutoDrive system, a proven autonomous driving suite capable of operating in varied terrain and even in denied environments without GPS.

AutoDrive fuses lidar, radar, cameras, and advanced algorithms to allow vehicles to conduct autonomous navigation, convoy movement, obstacle avoidance, and platooning maneuvers.

It is controlled via Forterra’s TerraLink platform, which provides interfaces for remote, onboard, and handheld command.

The company brings significant field experience, claiming over 400,000 miles of operational testing across more than 100 autonomous defense and commercial vehicles in ten countries.

Its technology has already been integrated into US Department of Defense projects such as Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV), Autonomous Transport Vehicle System (GEARS), ROGUE Fires, and the Squad-Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET).

The decision to integrate AutoDrive with the AMPV presents the Army with an opportunity to validate autonomy inside heavily armored formations.

BAE officials highlight that this partnership not only strengthens the AMPV’s role in future combat environments but could also demonstrate an adaptable blueprint for other armored platforms in US service.

By linking automation with the AMPV’s scalable chassis, the Army is looking to streamline how fast emerging technologies can be fielded without redesigning vehicle fleets from scratch.

AMPV’s Role in Replacing the M113

The AMPV program itself emerged to replace the aging M113 family of vehicles, which entered service in the early 1960s and served extensively from Vietnam through Iraq.

While versatile, the M113 proved increasingly vulnerable during modern conflicts, particularly in Iraq where improvised explosive devices and urban warfare outpaced its level of protection.

MRAP vehicles offered better armor but lacked the mobility necessary to operate alongside tanks and infantry fighting vehicles.

The Army formally selected the AMPV, built on Bradley Fighting Vehicle design elements, to fill this gap.

Developed to fight alongside the M1 Abrams and M2 Bradley, the AMPV features enhanced armor, digital networking, improved survivability, and common logistics with other armored platforms.

Its baseline program covers five configurations: the M1283 General Purpose, M1284 Medical Evacuation, M1285 Medical Treatment, M1286 Mission Command, and XM1287 Mortar Carrier.

These versions allow ABCTs to handle battlefield functions ranging from casualty care and network command to indirect fire missions.

AMPV technical specifications reflect its balance between mobility and protection. It weighs around 36 tonnes, measures six meters long by 3.7 meters wide, and runs on a Cummins VTA903E-T675 engine paired to a RENK HMPT 800 transmission.

It can reach 61 kilometers per hour with a range of 362 km. Enhanced underbelly armor, fire suppression systems, and enlarged interior volume give it stronger protection for soldiers and improved ability to carry equipment compared to its predecessor.

After the rollout of the first AMPV prototype in 2016, the Army approved full-rate production in August 2023.

The long-term goal is to acquire nearly 2,907 vehicles to fulfill multiple combat support roles across ABCTs, fully replacing the M113.

The new autonomous prototype feeds into the Army’s evolving doctrine that stresses adaptability and modular modernization rather than static fleet planning.

Expanding Modular Capabilities for Modern Battlefields

The Army has already begun using the AMPV platform as a testbed to integrate next-generation technology through BAE Systems’ capability kit initiative.

Over recent years, engineers have trialed prototypes including a Patria NEMO 120 mm mortar turret, 30 mm unmanned weapon stations, modular engineering vehicles, and even counter-unmanned aerial system configurations like the Leonardo M-SHORAD turret.

These experiments reflect a strategic shift toward treating the AMPV as a flexible chassis capable of supporting multiple combat functions.

The addition of an autonomous variant aligns tightly with the Army’s broader experimentation with unmanned ground systems.

Current acquisition practices emphasize modular autonomy packages that can shift across different host platforms, instead of tying software solutions to a single vehicle design.

Forterra’s AMPV project will serve as both a proof-of-concept and a stepping stone to testing automation for logistics, reconnaissance, medical evacuation, and direct support roles inside armored teams.

On the same day BAE announced its Forterra partnership, it also revealed a separate collaboration with Hanwha Aerospace to install anti-jamming GPS into Hanwha’s Deep Strike guided missile system.

This parallel development shows BAE’s strategy of modernizing across two fronts: resilience in long-range precision munitions and autonomy in ground combat vehicles.

Industry analysts view these combined paths as key priorities for the Army as it seeks to maintain superiority against peer adversaries in contested electromagnetic and high-threat environments.

With the 2026 demonstration looming, the Army will use the autonomous AMPV test to measure how autonomy performs inside armored formations.

Success could accelerate the rollout of autonomous systems across the US ground vehicle fleet, marking an important shift toward more adaptive, survivable, and connected combat vehicles for tomorrow’s battlefield.