The United States Army has delivered its first Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) equipped with a 30mm cannon to the 1st Cavalry Division, marking the initial fielding of a more heavily armed variant of the platform, the division confirmed in a recent announcement.
The first new combat vehicles have been received by the division’s units as part of ongoing efforts to integrate new combat capabilities into armored formations.
According to the 1st Cavalry Division, its soldiers are “leading the charge” in integrating the new AMPV 30mm vehicles into operational units. The AMPV program itself is designed to replace the legacy M113 armored personnel carrier fleet, which has been in service for decades. The platform reached full-rate production in 2023 and is being fielded in multiple configurations, including general purpose, medical evacuation, medical treatment, mission command, and mortar carrier variants.
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The 30mm variant represents a departure from the standard AMPV configurations, which are typically unarmed or lightly armed. As noted in the division’s statement, the addition of a medium-caliber cannon is intended to provide enhanced firepower and expand the vehicle’s operational role within armored formations.
The AMPV 30mm is fitted with the Kongsberg MCT-30 (Medium Caliber Turret), a remotely operated, unmanned turret system. The turret allows the crew to control the weapon from within the protected hull of the vehicle, reducing exposure to enemy fire. The unmanned design also eliminates the need for a turret basket, freeing internal space and improving crew survivability.
The MCT-30 turret has already been selected by the United States Marine Corps for its ACV-30 program and has been deployed on Stryker Dragoon armored vehicles. Its integration onto the AMPV platform suggests a move toward standardizing medium-caliber remote weapon systems across multiple U.S. ground combat vehicles.The 30mm cannon provides the AMPV with the ability to engage lightly armored vehicles, fortified positions, and dismounted threats at greater distances compared to standard machine gun armament. This capability allows the vehicle to support maneuver units more directly, rather than serving solely in support or rear-echelon roles.
The AMPV program has been a central part of the Army’s modernization efforts, aimed at replacing aging armored vehicles with a common platform that offers improved protection, mobility, and adaptability. The introduction of the 30mm variant builds on that foundation by adding a direct-fire capability not present in earlier configurations.
The decision to field the first vehicles with the 1st Cavalry Division aligns with the unit’s role as one of the Army’s primary armored formations. The division has historically been involved in testing and integrating new equipment, making it a suitable choice for evaluating the operational impact of the AMPV 30mm.
