The Ukrainian armed forces showcased a US-delivered M1117 Armored Security Vehicle for the first time this week. A 425th Separate Assault Battalion Skala Instagram post displayed the Textron vehicle on a training ground.
A total of 250 refurbished M1117s were announced on November 4, 2022 as part of a $400 million aid package, including 45 refurbished T-72B tanks, an unknown number of refurbished HAWK air defense missiles, 1,100 Phoenix Ghost drones, and 40 Armored Riverine Boats. Delivery delays may occur due to the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative necessitating industry procurement.
According to Defense Express, the decommissioned vehicle’s refurbishment was the subject of a separate briefing for the congressional defense committees in September 2023. It was revealed that the refurbishment would take another 18 months, with US officials pushing to accelerate it.
Based on the Cadillac M706 Commando, the 13.4-ton 4×4 armored personnel carrier was developed in the 1990s and first inducted in 1999. It features an M2 Browning machine gun and an Mk 19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. Additionally, an M240H machine gun is installed near the gunner’s hatch. Around 2,000 vehicles were produced by the US, and in 2019, it was decided that the vehicle would be gradually replaced with the Oshkosh M-ATV MRAP.
