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. The M1117 Guardian, also denoted as the Armored Security Vehicle (ASV), is an internal security vehicle based on the V-100 and V-150 Commando series of armored cars. It was developed in the late 1990s for service with the United States Military Police Corps. The first prototypes appeared in February 1997 and serial production of the M1117 commenced between 1999 and early 2000. Rigorously tested and proven in the toughest environments, the COMMANDO family of vehicles offers a range of protection up to and exceeding MRAP level, unmatched on-road/off-road mobility and ample firepower. Textron Systems offers three lines of COMMANDO four-wheeled armored vehicles – COMMANDO Advanced, COMMANDO Select and COMMANDO Elite.
COMMANDO Advanced armored vehicles are combat proven over 10 years, and are derived from Armored Security Vehicles used by the U.S. Army and other militaries in locations including Afghanistan, Iraq and Colombia. All COMMANDO Advanced armored vehicle variants offer excellent on-road and off-road mobility enabling them to operate in urban, jungle, desert and mountainous terrain. Crew protection is reinforced with a V-shaped hull
bottom and 360-degree protection from direct fire.
COMMANDO Select armored personnel carriers include variants that can carry up to 10 occupants, and offer an enhanced combination of lethality, survivability, mobility and sustainability. MRAP-level 1 crew protection is built into all COMMANDO Select vehicles. Greater survivability, however, doesn’t come at the expense of mobility. These vehicles deliver greater mobility than other similar MRAP-type armored vehicles on the market. More than 440 COMMANDO Select vehicles are currently being built and fielded, under the name Mobile Strike Force Vehicles, for the Afghanistan National Army. The Textron Commando Select is an armoured vehicle personnel carrier offer an enhanced combination of lethality, survivability, mobility and sustainability.
The COMMANDO Elite line features Textron Systems most highly-protected and capable armored vehicles. These vehicles feature a digital backbone, provide MRAP-level 2 mine-blast protection, and deliver lethality through multiple sensors and weapons options. COMMANDO Elite vehicles come equipped with drive train enhancements that make them fast and highly maneuverable in a wide range of environments. The Canadian Forces earlier this year contracted for 500 of these vehicles for its Tactical Armored Patrol Vehicle program. The United Arab Emirates also is considering the COMMANDO Elite for use by its Presidential Guard.
