DSEI 2025 – KNDS Deutschland: Armoured Command and Liaison Vehicle, new life for the AMPV
More than one light armoured vehicle seen at DSEI 2025 was being proposed as a candidate for the UK Land Mobility Programme, LMP in short, and in this case more specifically for the Light Protected Mobility (LPM) segment. Among those was the ACLV, Armoured Command and Liaison Vehicle, unveiled by KNDS Deutschland to answer the German Army GFF (Geschützte Führungs und Funktionsfahrzeuge for protected command and role-specific vehicles) Group 2 requirement
Saying “unveiled” might sound rather excessive; in fact, the ACLV is a new generation AMPV, the Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle. This 10 tonnes 4×4 armoured vehicle was developed as a joint venture between Germany’s Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) and then Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW)
On the outside, the major changing is at the front, the hood looking quite different from the one developed by the Porsche Design Studio for the AMPV. As for the armoured cabin, which can host up to four soldiers, this remains very similar.
Considering that the AMPV was designed around 20 years ago, it was unveiled in 2007, to propose it for the UK LMP KNDS Deutschland needed to address a series of obsolescence, however many components such as suspensions, driveline and armour package remain the same, hence qualification tests were reduced as most parts had already undergone the process. The vehicle has been fitted with a wholly new brake system, to cope with the latest regulations.
The ACLV has a 10 tonnes gross vehicle mass and can carry a 2.2 tonnes payload, the protected volume being 5.5 m3 while the unprotected transport volume is 10 m3. Dimensions are only marginally different from the original AMPV, the ACLV being 5.42 meters long, 2.30 meters wide and 2.18 metres high, with a 0.345 metres minimum ground clearance.
The vehicle is powered by a 3.2 litres 6-cylinder engine providing 200 kW (268 hp), with a 610 Nm torque, which gives a power-to-mass ratio of 20 kW/t or 26.8 hp/t, allowing a maximum speed on road of 105 km/h. Cruise range is 700 km. The vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox and automatic differential locks, the central tire inflation system being offered as option. The ACLV can ford a water course 0.85 metres deep.
A self-supporting safety cell with independent suspensions with long spring travel, the armour kit provides a Level 3 ballistic protection according to STANAG 4569, while against blast the ACLV is protected at Level 3 under wheels and Level 2 under belly. New energy absorbing seats have been installed to further reduce the effect of a blast on personnel. For self-protection it can be fitted with a remotely controlled weapon station, and at DSEI it was equipped with an KNDS Deutschland FLW 200 RCWS armed with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun.
The Light Protected Mobility, for which the ACLV is proposed, is designed to replace legacy platforms currently in service with the British Army such as the Mastiff, Ridgeback, and Wolfhound, with an Initial Operational Capability slated for between 2029 and 2030.
Photos by P. Valpolini
