M1117 ASV Guardian

Wheeled 4x4 Armored Security Vehicle - Textron - United States

The ASV M1117 is a 4x4 wheeled security armored vehicle personnel carrier that offers significant crew protection through the employment of multiple layers of armor, defending against small arms fire, artillery projectile fragments, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and land mines. The ASV possesses superior mobility, agility, handling and ride quality through the utilization of a four-wheel independent suspension system. The ASV M1117 is designed and manufactured by the American Company Textron Marine & Land Systems. In June 2020, it was announced that Greece will receive 1,200 M1117 vehicles from the United States. On November 4, 2022, the United States announced funding to refurbish 250 M1117 Armored Security Vehicles that will be delivered to Ukraine. According to a video published on Social Network on December 7, 2022, the United States started the delivery of the M1117 vehicles to Ukraine by railway via Romania. 

M1117 ASV main variants:

- ASV Command and control: use the same chassis that the basic version but without a turret.
- ASV ICV: The infantry carrier vehicle, stretched chassis, crew 2 + 8 soldiers
- ASV RSTA: Reconnaissance, Surveillance & Target Acquisition Scout Vehicle
- ASV Recovery: no turret, recovery vehicle with boom
- ASV Knight: Reconnaissance observation vehicle
- AS Ambulance: Stretched chassis,

Armament

The ASV's M1117 Guardian firepower consists of a one-person, non-stabilized, turreted primary weapons station with a mounted 40mm automatic grenade launcher (MK19 MOD 3) and a .50-caliber machine gun (M2/M48). The turret traverses 360° and allows an elevation of 45°. The day/night target acquisition and fire control system allows the gunner to engage targets at the maximum effective ranges of both weapon systems. The vehicle also includes an M249 squad automatic weapon mount and an M257 multi-salvo smoke grenade system.

The one-man turret is armed with one 12.7mm heavy machine gun and one 40mm automatic grenade launcher

Design and protection

The ASV M1117 Guardian provides greater ballistic protection than any other wheeled vehicle of its size in the world. The external modular expandable armor system of ceramic composite material provides ballistic protection for the crew, ammunition, fuel tanks, and storage areas against 12.7mm armor-piercing ammunition. The ASV provides overhead protection against 60mm at 10 feet (3 meters) and 155mm ammunition at 50 feet (15 meters). It provides underbody protection against antipersonnel and antitank mines up to 12 pounds (5.4 kg) of TNT or equivalent explosives. This superior ballistic protection also includes a spall liner on the interior surfaces of the vehicle. The ASV M1117 can be also fitted with add-on armor.

Mobility

The ASV M1117 Guardian uses a 4x4 chassis. The vehicle is motorized with a Cummins 6CTA8.3, 260 hp/828 lb-ft engine, coupled to a transmission Allison MD3560 with 6 forward and 1 reverse speed. To maximize crew effectiveness, the ASV provides superior ride quality on highways and off-road terrain. The ASV travels at highway speeds over 97 km/h (60 mph) while offering excellent handling, ride quality and mobility, based upon independent suspension with an unmatched range of well over 440 miles on a basic load of fuel. Its off-road performance includes the capability to ford water depths of five feet, climb gradients of 60 percent, and overcome vertical obstacles two feet high.

Accessories

The ASV is transportable (roll-on/roll-off) by C-130 and larger aircraft, rail, highway, and marine transport modes. The ASV includes an organic winch capable of producing a minimum rated pull capacity of 15,000 lbs. (6,795 kg) to permit self-recovery and/or recovery of other systems as required.