M1117 Armored Security Vehicle

M1117 Armored Security Vehicle
A U.S. Army M1117 Armored Security Vehicle in Khost Province, Afghanistan in September 2007
Type	Internal security vehicle
Place of origin	United States of America
Service history
In service	1999–present
Used by	See Operators
Wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War Iraqi insurgency (2011–present) Colombian Conflict
Production history
Manufacturer	Textron Marine & Land Systems
Specifications
Weight	29,560 lb (13,410 kg)
Length	237 inches (6.0 m)
Width	101 inches (2.6 m)
Height	102 inches (2.6 m)
Crew	3/1 passenger
Armor	IBD Modular Expandable Armor System
Main armament	40 mm Mk 19 grenade launcher, .50 caliber M2HB
Secondary armament	M240H Medium Machine Gun
Engine	Cummins 6CTA8.3 260 hp, 828 foot-pounds
Suspension	4×4 wheeled, fully independent
Operational range	440 miles at 40 mph
Speed	63 mph (101 km/h)

The M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle, or ASV, is an internal security vehicle manufactured by Textron Marine & Land Systems for use by the U.S. Army's Military Police Corps. Its armament consists of an Mk 19 grenade launcher and M2HB Browning machine gun, mounted in a turret similar to that used on the U.S. Marine Corps' Amphibious Assault Vehicle; and a M240H Medium Machine Gun mounted outside the gunner's hatch. The vehicle was utilized by American military police and convoy security units in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a more heavily protected and heavily armed alternative to the armored Humvee which was not originally designed to be a protected fighting vehicle. In 2015 Textron Systems rebranded the M1117 as the COMMANDO™ family of vehicles, bringing back the name of the vehicle from which the M1117 was derived.

In the 1980s, American military doctrine emphasized two distinct types of equipment. Tanks and infantry fighting vehicles were for frontline combat, and unarmored utility vehicles for transport behind the lines. In 1993, the military had to fight through Mogadishu in unarmored Humvees, leading to the development of up-armored models. Many generals doubted the benefits, but the Military Police Corps, tasked with patrolling the "safe" rear area behind the battle line insisted that the Army fund a slow but steady production of the bullet resistant M1114 Humvee.

In 1999, the United States Army began buying a limited number of M1117s (originally the ASV-150) for the Military Police Corps. This purpose-built ASV was derived from Cadillac Gage's previous Commando family of AFV which was used in Vietnam for base security. The ASV 150 is a much improved version of the earlier Cadillac Gage 100/150, with improved armor protection and better maneuverability due to the use of Timoney's independent suspension system.