M1117 Armored Vehicles Spotted at 3rd Assault Brigade Training Exercises

The 3rd Separate Assault Brigade has received American M1117 armored vehicles, which are already being used during training exercises.

One of the armored vehicles was demonstrated during a session of the 1st Rifle Battalion.

This makes the brigade the third unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces where M1117 armored vehicles have been spotted.

The M1117 is an armored vehicle developed for the U.S. Army Military Police. It combines high mobility, firepower, and reliable protection.

The transfer of these vehicles to Ukraine was announced back in November 2022. Before delivery, the equipment was modified and prepared for use in combat conditions.

The first M1117s were spotted in Ukraine in March 2024 during training of the 425th Skala Separate Assault Regiment.

By September of the same year, the 154th Mechanized Brigade had received the M1117s, which were actively used in combat training.

This year, Ukraine will receive another 65 Mobile Strike Force Vehicles (MSFV) – upgraded machines based on the M1117 Guardian armored personnel carrier.

The new armored vehicles feature enhanced crew protection, increased interior space, and improved mine resistance.

The M1117 became one of the first U.S. military vehicles built with a mine-resistant hull, providing greater safety in the event of explosions.

The vehicle’s weight in standard configuration is about 15 tons, and with additional ceramic armor, up to 20 tons. Its width is 2.4 meters, and its height is 2.6 meters.

The M1117’s armament includes a 40 mm Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher and a 12.7 mm Browning M2HB heavy machine gun mounted on a rotating turret. Additionally, a 7.62 mm M240H machine gun can be used in the gunner’s hatch.