Commanders!
Today we’d like to tell you more about the third and (sort of) final vehicle from the upcoming Force Recon Battle Path – the AMPV 30.
Now, you might be a bit confused at this point – why’s the Battle Path called “Force Recon” when the final vehicle is a massive, brick-like APC? Not to worry, we’ll explain everything in the article. But first, a bit of history as usual.
The name AMPV stands for “Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle” and that’s all there is to it, really. It is a multi-purpose armored carrier, intended to replace the by now utterly obsolete M113 still in service in the U.S. Army. At first glance it represents a Bradley Fighting Vehicle without a turret, which is kind of ironic given how the Bradley program also began as a lightly armored vehicle instead of an IFV (only, four decades earlier).
And that’s what it really is because, when the AMPV program began in late 2014, one of the initial requirements for the vehicle was a high level of part commonality with the Bradley. Five different variants were initially envisaged:
- General purpose carrier (M1283)
- Armored ambulance (M1284) for evacuation
- Armored medical vehicle (M1285) for treatment
- Command center (M1286)
- Mortar carrier (M1287) with a 120mm mortar on board
Initially, 2907 vehicles were ordered to replace the 2897 service M113s. As stated above, the vehicle had a lot in common with the Bradley, including its aluminum hull derived from the Bradley, drivetrain, and its Cummins 600hp VTA903 engine. Due to its lack of turret and larger size, it offered considerably more internal volume (roughly 80% mode than the M113) while still being air-transportable by the U.S. C-17 Globemaster plane (which was another requirement).
The vehicle is (for an APC) relatively well armored with its aluminum hull and appliqué composite armor (featuring ceramic inlays) protection the vehicle from 14.5mm bullets (STANAG 4569 Level 4). Additional ERA kit and cage armor can be mounted on top of that and the vehicle was also tested with the Trophy hard-kill APS. NBC protection, automatic fire extinguishing system and modern spall liners are also included.
Mobility-wise, the AMPV is no slouch as it can go as fast as 60 km/h. The vehicle can also swim – sort of, with floating screens deployed. All that while weighing some 34 to 36 tons, depending on the configuration. The vehicle typically has a crew of two (commander and driver) and in its general purpose configuration is armed with a machinegun or a grenade launcher.
The first prototype was delivered in 2016 with 29 more produced between 2017 and 2018. These were thoroughly tested at the Aberdeen proving grounds and the vehicle was approved for low-rate initial production (LRIP). The first mass-produced vehicle of this batch came off the assembly line in York (Pennsylvania) in mid-2020 with full-rate production ramping up in March 2024. The vehicle officially entered U.S. service in 2023. By November 2025, more than 500 vehicles were delivered with the current estimate (April 2026) being more than 600 in service. The production is ongoing and will be for quite some time.
But that’s not the end of the AMPV story. Starting from early 2024, several new versions of the AMPV were shown with different 30mm turrets integrated into it. These were (for example) various anti-aircraft and anti-drone configurations and included (amongst other things) the EOS 800S turret, the Oshkosh MCWS turret and the RIWP turret you might be familiar with already from Boxer RIWP that is already in the game.
And it is this configuration that we have for you today – with a plot twist.
In Armored Warfare, the AMPV 30 will be a Tier 10 Premium Armored Fighting Vehicle.
As you can probably tell from the screenshots, the vehicle we have for you is a combination of an AMPV hull (the basic version with some composite plating) and the RIWP turret you already known from Boxer RIWP – specifically the hybrid configuration of Hellfires and top-attack Javelin guided missiles.
So what does make this vehicle different from the Boxer, we hear you ask? A whole bunch of things do, including its main ability. Let’s take a look at them one by one.
First, let’s talk protection. The AMPV is basically an archetypal example of what’s commonly referred to video games as “bullet sponge” – the armor itself won’t be that thick and the vehicle features no ERA or NERA armor. Nor does it have a hard-kill APS (although there is a soft-kill one available). What it does have is a very high amount of hitpoints and reduced module damage taken, allowing it to tank even the heaviest of hits without becoming instantly crippled by broken modules. In this regard, it is quite forgiving.
Still, it isn’t a front-line vehicle. The AMPV, much like its real-life counterpart, should act as a fire support platform, which is why it has all those fancy weapon systems – two Hellfires, two Javelins and the ever-popular 30mm autocannon pack quite a punch. It can also carry mechanized infantry (or trade it for supercharged soft-kill APS) and has decent mobility (a bit slower but more agile than the Boxer).
All in all, we’re looking at a durable and relatively forgiving AFV – not bad in its own right. But that’s not all there is to it.
The AMPV comes equipped with a special new missile type – Loitering Recon Ammunition (LRA). Simply put, the LRA is a FPV missile with an inert warhead that can’t really deal any significant damage upon impact. What it can do, however, (unlike the other FPV missiles) is spot targets. In this regard, it’s basically a recon drone – you control it and it spots targets ahead of itself (even if they are on the other end of the map).
If you’re thinking that this puts it at an advantage compared to regular spotters, you’re right. Which is why other vehicles will receive this missile type as well – in fact, we’ll be changing the entire spotting paradigm. That alone deserves a separate article which will be unveiled in the future.
However, before we finish, there’s one more thing you should know about the AMPV – its appearance will be tied to a new Legendary Vehicle that will arrive either with the Battle Path, or shortly after. Much like the XM1302 – Longstreet connection, the AMPV will also act as a prerequisite in this case.
And that’s it for today, commanders. Thank you for your attention and, as always:
See you on the battlefield!
