The M1147 Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP), also known as M1147 High Explosive Multi-Purpose with Tracer (HEMP-T), is a next-generation 120mm tank round developed by

Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American multinational Aerospace manufacturer, aerospace and Arms industry, defense company. With 97,000 employees and an annual revenue in excess of $40 billion, it is one of the world's largest Arms industry ...

for the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank. Designed to consolidate the capabilities of four legacy rounds into a single munition, the AMP enhances logistical efficiency and combat flexibility. Equipped with a multi-mode programmable fuze, it can operate in point-detonate, point-detonate delay, and airburst modes, enabling it to engage a variety of targets, including anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) teams, light armor, bunkers, reinforced concrete walls, and massed infantry. The round integrates with the Abrams Fire Control System through an Ammunition Data Link (ADL), enabling precise programming of the desired mode of operation prior to firing.

Development history

The development of the XM1147 AMP can be traced back to the XM1069 Advanced Multi-Purpose round, an earlier initiative aimed at creating a versatile 120mm munition with a multi-mode fuze for the Abrams Main Battle Tank. The XM1069 concept emphasized consolidating multiple munitions into a single round, prioritizing operational flexibility and logistical efficiency. M1147 AMP Stowed

In 2013, the U.S. Army began the development of the XM1147 AMP round, with specifications emphasizing abilities to engage ATGM teams, dismounted infantry, and breach reinforced concrete walls. The program aimed to consolidate the capabilities of four legacy rounds—

M830 The M830 is an American 120×570mm NATO high explosive anti-tank multi purpose (HEAT MP-T) cartridge which has anti-armor and anti-personnel capabilities. This round is meant for the 120 mm M256 main gun of the M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams. The round was ...

HEAT MP-T, M830A1 HEAT MP-T, M908 HE-OR-T, and M1028 Canister—into a single munition, simplifying logistics and improving battlefield flexibility. Development continued in 2015 under

Orbital ATK Orbital ATK Inc. was an American aerospace manufacturer and defense industry company. It was formed in February 9, 2015 from the merger of Orbital Sciences Corporation and parts of Alliant Techsystems (ATK). Orbital ATK designed, built, and de ...

, which later became

Innovation Systems. A $16 million contract initiated the first phase of development, focusing on creating a round with enhanced mission versatility and a multi-mode programmable fuze. The XM1147 AMP did not achieve Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) until December 2020. Finally, on December 20, 2024, the U.S. Army approved the M1147 AMP for full-rate production, marking a significant milestone in the program's history. This decision followed extensive testing phases, including live-fire lethality evaluations and operational assessments.

Design, Uses, and Capabilities

The M1147 AMP is equipped with a

high explosive An explosive (or explosive material) is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. An exp ...

(HE) warhead containing tungsten spheres to provide blast, armor penetration, and fragmentation effects, along with a multi-mode programmable fuze that allows tank crews to select one of three operational modes: point detonate, point detonate delay, or airburst. This design enables the round to engage a wide range of targets, including ATGM teams, light armor, bunkers, infantry, and obstacles. The AMP has a muzzle velocity of 1,150 meters per second when fired from the M256 main gun of the

M1A2 The M1 Abrams () is a third-generation American main battle tank designed by Chrysler Defense (now General Dynamics Land Systems) and named for General Creighton Abrams. Conceived for modern armored ground warfare, it is one of the heaviest ...

and is effective at ranges exceeding 2,000 meters. It also features an

insensitive munition 'Insensitivity' (sensi'tivitē) refers to a lack of sensitivity (human), sensitivity for other's feelings. It may also refer to: * Insensitive (song), "Insensitive" (song), a 1995 song by Canadian singer Jann Arden * Insensitive (House), ''Insensi ...

design for enhanced soldier safety. The AMP cartridge provides a range of capabilities that make it indispensable for modern armored warfare. It can defeat Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) teams at ranges from 50 meters to 2,000 meters, ensuring the tank can neutralize these threats effectively at extended distances. In addition, the AMP is highly effective in breaching Double Reinforced Concrete Walls (DRCW) up to 8 inches thick, capable of creating a 30" x 50" opening with no more than three rounds fired from 50 to 200 meters. The AMP also excels in targeting light armor, defeating such targets up to 2,000 meters away. When engaging bunkers, two rounds can be used to achieve effective results at ranges between 200 and 1,000 meters. The munition is also capable of eliminating massed infantry at ranges from 200 meters to 5,000 meters, making it a valuable asset in both close and long-range combat situations. Additionally, the AMP can be used for obstacle rubbling from 200 meters to 1,000 meters. With a firing temperature range of -32 °C to +63 °C (-25 °F to +145 °F) and a cartridge weight of , the AMP is designed to perform in a wide variety of environmental conditions, providing soldiers with a reliable and effective tool in diverse combat scenarios. File:M1147 AMP Impact.jpg, M1147 blasting through a reinforced concrete wall File:M1147 AMP Wall Results.jpg, Result of three M1147 hits against a reinforced concrete wall File:M1147 AMP Airburst.jpg, M1147 Airbursting

Operators

Current operators

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

Future operators

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

: Possible sale approved in 2022. *

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

: Possible sale approved in 2023. *

Bahrain Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an island country in West Asia. Situated on the Persian Gulf, it comprises a small archipelago of 50 natural islands and an additional 33 artificial islands, centered on Bahrain Island, which mak ...

: Possible sale approved in 2024. *

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

: Possible sale approved in 2024.

References