Textron [TXT] Marine & Land Systems is displaying its newly-named COMMANDO™ family of armored vehicles here at the Association of the United States Army annual conference.
The company has rigorously tested and proven the vehicles in the toughest environments and said the vehicles offer a range of protection up to and exceeding Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) level and unmatched on-road/off-road mobility.
The COMMANDO four-wheeled armored vehicles come in three categories: COMMANDO Advanced, COMMANDO Select and COMMANDO Elite.
COMMANDO Advanced armored vehicles, which have been used in combat for over 10 years, are derived from Armored Security Vehicles (ASV) used by the U.S. Army and other militaries. The vehicles offer on-road and off-road mobility enabling them to operate in urban, jungle, desert and mountainous terrain, while 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, MRAP-level 1 crew protection, greater mobility than other similar MRAP-type armored vehicles, and sustainability. More than 440 COMMANDO Select vehicles are currently being built and fielded, under the name Mobile Strike Force Vehicles, for the Afghanistan National Army.
COMMANDO Elite 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 such vehicles for its Tactical Armored Patrol Vehicle program.
The United Arab Emirates also is considering COMMANDO Elite vehicles for use by its Presidential Guard.