A total of eleven ASV M1117 Guardian armored vehicles were added to the Colombian Army during a military ceremony presided over by the Army Commander, Major General Royer Gómez, and the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Colombia, John McNamara. The event took place on January 6 at the Tolemaida Military Fort, located in Nilo, Cundinamarca Department. During the ceremony, a symbolic handover of these vehicles was carried out, which are part of a total of 145 units donated by the United States.
During the event, Major General Royer Gómez stated: “The National Army has received a total of 145 vehicles; each vehicle has a cost of one million three hundred thousand dollars, which we are receiving as a donation.” He also emphasized that “these vehicles have been assigned to maneuver units located in the most critical areas, where we must especially guarantee mobility corridors so that the Colombian people can move with safety and peace of mind.”
The vehicles are part of the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) Program and are included in Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) CO-B-VHN, in force since 2020. The U.S. Department of Defense’s Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program is responsible for the deliveries.
In total, 200 vehicles were authorized, of which 145 have so far been transferred. The first delivery took place in December 2021 with 20 units; followed by 40 in April 2022; then 41 in 2024; later, in August of the same year, with another 33; and finally, the most recent batch was delivered in February of this year with eleven vehicles. Prior to these donations, Colombia had 69 units acquired from Textron Marine & Land Systems, some of which are fitted with TM&LS turrets. Currently, the National Army operates a total fleet of 214 ASV M1117 Guardian vehicles.
These vehicles correspond to the Textron Marine & Land Systems M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) model. They feature permanent 4×4 drive, a six-speed automatic transmission, and can reach a top speed of nearly 100 km/h on roads. In addition, they have an operational range of approximately 700 kilometers on a single fuel tank.
They are fitted with multi-layer armor providing protection against projectiles of up to 14.5 mm. The underside of the vehicle is designed with a V-shaped hull, which helps deflect the blast wave generated by mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to the sides. They are equipped with day and night vision systems and can operate effectively in both urban and rural environments.
Additionally, they can be fitted with a turret armed with a .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine gun and a 40 mm MK-19 grenade launcher, as well as periscopic vision blocks that provide a 360-degree field of view, allowing the crew to monitor their surroundings without exposure.
The National Army employs these armored vehicles to conduct patrols in rural and jungle areas, with the aim of combating illegal armed groups, protecting national sovereignty, and monitoring border areas, contributing to the reduction of smuggling and criminal organization activity. With the incorporation of the new vehicles, the goal is to increase military capacity in the departments, with the vehicles being distributed to maneuver units to secure mobility corridors in Arauca, Cauca, and Norte de Santander, especially in the Catatumbo region.
The arrival of the ASV M1117 Guardian vehicles strengthens the National Army’s tactical capabilities, increasing personnel protection and mobility in critical areas. With a fleet of 214 units, Colombia consolidates its interoperability with international standards and enhances security along strategic corridors, contributing to the defense of sovereignty and regional stability.
Photographs: Ministry of Defense / National Army of Colombia.
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