diff --git a/libraries/AP_Common/AP_FWVersionDefine.h b/libraries/AP_Common/AP_FWVersionDefine.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a93fc7c78c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/AP_Common/AP_FWVersionDefine.h
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+/*
+ * This file is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+ * under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
+ * Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This file is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+ * WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+ * See the GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+// this include file *defines* the structure holding the version information for the ArduPilot binary.  It must only be 
+// included in a single place, thus the following protection:
+
+#ifndef FORCE_VERSION_H_INCLUDE
+#error AP_FWVersionDefine.h should never be included directly. You probably want to include AP_Common/AP_FWVersion.h
+#endif
+
+#include <AP_Common/AP_FWVersion.h>
+
+const AP_FWVersion AP_FWVersion::fwver{
+    .major = FW_MAJOR,
+    .minor = FW_MINOR,
+    .patch = FW_PATCH,
+    .fw_type = FW_TYPE,
+#ifndef GIT_VERSION
+    .fw_string = THISFIRMWARE,
+    .fw_hash_str = "",
+#else
+    .fw_string = THISFIRMWARE " (" GIT_VERSION ")",
+    .fw_hash_str = GIT_VERSION,
+#endif
+    .middleware_name = nullptr,
+    .middleware_hash_str = nullptr,
+#ifdef CHIBIOS_GIT_VERSION
+    .os_name = "ChibiOS",
+    .os_hash_str = CHIBIOS_GIT_VERSION,
+#else
+    .os_name = nullptr,
+    .os_hash_str = nullptr,
+#endif
+#ifdef BUILD_DATE_YEAR
+    // encode build date in os_sw_version
+   .os_sw_version = (BUILD_DATE_YEAR*100*100) + (BUILD_DATE_MONTH*100) + BUILD_DATE_DAY,
+#else
+   .os_sw_version = 0,
+#endif
+};