diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs-patterns/test/ec2/integ.scheduled-ecs-task.lit.expected.json b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs-patterns/test/ec2/integ.scheduled-ecs-task.lit.expected.json
index 0ffc0270d1f57..cf3a99e9c3aab 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs-patterns/test/ec2/integ.scheduled-ecs-task.lit.expected.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs-patterns/test/ec2/integ.scheduled-ecs-task.lit.expected.json
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@
       "Type": "AWS::AutoScaling::LaunchConfiguration",
       "Properties": {
         "ImageId": {
-          "Ref": "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinuxrecommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter"
+          "Ref": "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinux2recommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter"
         },
         "InstanceType": "t2.micro",
         "IamInstanceProfile": {
@@ -863,9 +863,9 @@
     }
   },
   "Parameters": {
-    "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinuxrecommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter": {
+    "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinux2recommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter": {
       "Type": "AWS::SSM::Parameter::Value<String>",
-      "Default": "/aws/service/ecs/optimized-ami/amazon-linux/recommended/image_id"
+      "Default": "/aws/service/ecs/optimized-ami/amazon-linux-2/recommended/image_id"
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/lib/cluster.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/lib/cluster.ts
index b26c992e33125..a9402ece13eb3 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/lib/cluster.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/lib/cluster.ts
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ export interface EcsOptimizedAmiProps {
   /**
    * What generation of Amazon Linux to use
    *
-   * @default AmazonLinuxGeneration.AmazonLinux if hardwareType equal to AmiHardwareType.Standard else AmazonLinuxGeneration.AmazonLinux2
+   * @default AmazonLinuxGeneration.AmazonLinux2
    */
   readonly generation?: ec2.AmazonLinuxGeneration;
 
@@ -261,11 +261,8 @@ export class EcsOptimizedAmi implements ec2.IMachineImage {
         this.generation = props.generation;
       }
     } else {                              // generation not defined in props object
-      if (this.hwType === AmiHardwareType.STANDARD) {    // default to Amazon Linux v1 if no HW is standard
-        this.generation = ec2.AmazonLinuxGeneration.AMAZON_LINUX;
-      } else {                                         // default to Amazon Linux v2 if special HW
-        this.generation = ec2.AmazonLinuxGeneration.AMAZON_LINUX_2;
-      }
+      // always default to Amazon Linux v2 regardless of HW
+      this.generation = ec2.AmazonLinuxGeneration.AMAZON_LINUX_2;
     }
 
     // set the SSM parameter name
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/ec2/integ.lb-awsvpc-nw.expected.json b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/ec2/integ.lb-awsvpc-nw.expected.json
index 2c20119e93204..c8269f73154f6 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/ec2/integ.lb-awsvpc-nw.expected.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/ec2/integ.lb-awsvpc-nw.expected.json
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 {
   "Parameters": {
-    "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinuxrecommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter": {
+    "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinux2recommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter": {
       "Type": "AWS::SSM::Parameter::Value<String>",
-      "Default": "/aws/service/ecs/optimized-ami/amazon-linux/recommended/image_id"
+      "Default": "/aws/service/ecs/optimized-ami/amazon-linux-2/recommended/image_id"
     }
   },
   "Resources": {
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@
       "Type": "AWS::AutoScaling::LaunchConfiguration",
       "Properties": {
         "ImageId": {
-          "Ref": "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinuxrecommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter"
+          "Ref": "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinux2recommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter"
         },
         "InstanceType": "t2.micro",
         "IamInstanceProfile": {
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/ec2/integ.lb-bridge-nw.expected.json b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/ec2/integ.lb-bridge-nw.expected.json
index 03344947e847b..8fcb36c23b453 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/ec2/integ.lb-bridge-nw.expected.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/ec2/integ.lb-bridge-nw.expected.json
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 {
   "Parameters": {
-    "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinuxrecommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter": {
+    "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinux2recommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter": {
       "Type": "AWS::SSM::Parameter::Value<String>",
-      "Default": "/aws/service/ecs/optimized-ami/amazon-linux/recommended/image_id"
+      "Default": "/aws/service/ecs/optimized-ami/amazon-linux-2/recommended/image_id"
     }
   },
   "Resources": {
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@
       "Type": "AWS::AutoScaling::LaunchConfiguration",
       "Properties": {
         "ImageId": {
-          "Ref": "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinuxrecommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter"
+          "Ref": "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinux2recommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter"
         },
         "InstanceType": "t2.micro",
         "IamInstanceProfile": {
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/ec2/integ.sd-awsvpc-nw.expected.json b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/ec2/integ.sd-awsvpc-nw.expected.json
index 60393cefcb965..296b4f57fb608 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/ec2/integ.sd-awsvpc-nw.expected.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/ec2/integ.sd-awsvpc-nw.expected.json
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 {
   "Parameters": {
-    "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinuxrecommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter": {
+    "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinux2recommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter": {
       "Type": "AWS::SSM::Parameter::Value<String>",
-      "Default": "/aws/service/ecs/optimized-ami/amazon-linux/recommended/image_id"
+      "Default": "/aws/service/ecs/optimized-ami/amazon-linux-2/recommended/image_id"
     }
   },
   "Resources": {
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@
       "Type": "AWS::AutoScaling::LaunchConfiguration",
       "Properties": {
         "ImageId": {
-          "Ref": "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinuxrecommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter"
+          "Ref": "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinux2recommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter"
         },
         "InstanceType": "t2.micro",
         "IamInstanceProfile": {
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/ec2/integ.sd-bridge-nw.expected.json b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/ec2/integ.sd-bridge-nw.expected.json
index e9a6fd0d4d524..5b9ee07eb04e9 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/ec2/integ.sd-bridge-nw.expected.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/ec2/integ.sd-bridge-nw.expected.json
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 {
   "Parameters": {
-    "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinuxrecommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter": {
+    "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinux2recommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter": {
       "Type": "AWS::SSM::Parameter::Value<String>",
-      "Default": "/aws/service/ecs/optimized-ami/amazon-linux/recommended/image_id"
+      "Default": "/aws/service/ecs/optimized-ami/amazon-linux-2/recommended/image_id"
     }
   },
   "Resources": {
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@
       "Type": "AWS::AutoScaling::LaunchConfiguration",
       "Properties": {
         "ImageId": {
-          "Ref": "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinuxrecommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter"
+          "Ref": "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinux2recommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter"
         },
         "InstanceType": "t2.micro",
         "IamInstanceProfile": {
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/test.ecs-cluster.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/test.ecs-cluster.ts
index 99d3c3cbc0c75..9c683245b8bea 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/test.ecs-cluster.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-ecs/test/test.ecs-cluster.ts
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ export = {
 
       expect(stack).to(haveResource("AWS::AutoScaling::LaunchConfiguration", {
         ImageId: {
-          Ref: "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinuxrecommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter"
+          Ref: "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinux2recommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter"
         },
         InstanceType: "t2.micro",
         IamInstanceProfile: {
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-events-targets/test/ecs/integ.event-ec2-task.lit.expected.json b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-events-targets/test/ecs/integ.event-ec2-task.lit.expected.json
index aec70731e4d81..3a785ab15d64a 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-events-targets/test/ecs/integ.event-ec2-task.lit.expected.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-events-targets/test/ecs/integ.event-ec2-task.lit.expected.json
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@
       "Type": "AWS::AutoScaling::LaunchConfiguration",
       "Properties": {
         "ImageId": {
-          "Ref": "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinuxrecommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter"
+          "Ref": "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinux2recommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter"
         },
         "InstanceType": "t2.micro",
         "IamInstanceProfile": {
@@ -1176,9 +1176,9 @@
     }
   },
   "Parameters": {
-    "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinuxrecommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter": {
+    "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinux2recommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter": {
       "Type": "AWS::SSM::Parameter::Value<String>",
-      "Default": "/aws/service/ecs/optimized-ami/amazon-linux/recommended/image_id"
+      "Default": "/aws/service/ecs/optimized-ami/amazon-linux-2/recommended/image_id"
     },
     "TaskDefTheContainerAssetImageImageName92ECAC22": {
       "Type": "String",
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/integ.ec2-task.expected.json b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/integ.ec2-task.expected.json
index ab46bba0cd6f1..db8e2e9338110 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/integ.ec2-task.expected.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/integ.ec2-task.expected.json
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
       "Type": "AWS::AutoScaling::LaunchConfiguration",
       "Properties": {
         "ImageId": {
-          "Ref": "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinuxrecommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter"
+          "Ref": "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinux2recommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter"
         },
         "InstanceType": "t2.micro",
         "IamInstanceProfile": {
@@ -957,9 +957,9 @@
     }
   },
   "Parameters": {
-    "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinuxrecommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter": {
+    "SsmParameterValueawsserviceecsoptimizedamiamazonlinux2recommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter": {
       "Type": "AWS::SSM::Parameter::Value<String>",
-      "Default": "/aws/service/ecs/optimized-ami/amazon-linux/recommended/image_id"
+      "Default": "/aws/service/ecs/optimized-ami/amazon-linux-2/recommended/image_id"
     },
     "TaskDefTheContainerAssetImageImageName92ECAC22": {
       "Type": "String",