The U.S. Army has selected Alabama’s Anniston Army Depot as the de-processing site for the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) program.
U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, made the announcement on Monday in a release.
De-processing for Army combat vehicles is a step that occurs prior to fielding vehicles for the first time. Each vehicle is sent from the production facility to a dedicated location to complete any required software and hardware updates; conduct a road test; consolidate technical manuals, spare parts and test equipment; and stage vehicles for final shipment to the unit.
“The Army’s decision to select Anniston Army Depot to serve as the de-processing site for the AMPV program is excellent news for the Depot and the entire Anniston area,” Shelby stated.
“This project will have a positive impact on the Depot, creating jobs and bringing additional work. I look forward to the implementation of this program and the economic growth it will bring to Anniston,” he continued.
In early 2019, the project manager for Mounted Armored Vehicles (PM MAV) evaluated potential de-processing locations, including Army National Guard and multiple U.S. Army installations where Program Executive Office (PEO) Ground Combat Systems already had an established Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) footprint. Following all necessary evaluations, Anniston Army Depot was reportedly selected based on its demonstration of overall lower execution risk and a better ability to adapt to changing Army requirements than the other sites.
Approximately 30 jobs are expected to be created at Anniston Army Depot over the next 18 months to run the de-processing facility and support this effort, which will last anywhere between 10 to 15 years.
The AMPV provides significant improvement in ballistic protection and is on-track for closing operational gaps the Army sees in force protection. The vehicle has proven through operational and developmental testing to be more effective and survivable than the thousands of M113s it is replacing.
The Army last year already designated Anniston Army Depot as the primary Depot Source of Repair (DSOR) for the AMPV.
UPDATE 4:05 p.m. CT
In a statement, Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston) applauded the announcement and thanked Shelby for his important leadership.
“The U.S. Army’s decision to select the Anniston Army Depot for the site of the de-processing site for the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle program is great news for Calhoun and Talladega counties,” Marsh said. “This project will have a positive economic impact on our community by bringing in additional jobs. I want to thank Senator Shelby for his work in bringing this project to Anniston.”
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
