U.S. Resumes Production of MSFV Armored Vehicles for Ukraine

Textron Systems has announced the restart of production of its Mobile Strike Force Vehicle (MSFV) armored vehicles at its Louisiana manufacturing facility. Production of the vehicles was suspended in 2019. Ukraine is among the recipients and is set to receive 65 of the newly built vehicles.

The company shared that the relaunch of the production line follows several months of preparation, coordination, and efforts to bring manufacturing capabilities back online to meet production requirements.

Under the current program, 65 new MSFV armored vehicles will be delivered to Ukraine.

The Louisiana facility is equipped to handle the entire production process – from parts manufacturing and welding to systems integration and testing – allowing it to support large-scale production while maintaining the vehicles’ quality standards.

According to the Defence Blog, the MSFV has an unusual history. The vehicle was originally developed for the Afghan National Army, and the last units rolled off the production line around 2019. The decision to restart production for Ukraine has effectively given the platform a second life, outlasting the very army it was originally designed to equip.

The $163.4 million contract is funded through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. It includes the delivery of 65 MSFV armored vehicles along with a one-year supply of spare parts. The work is scheduled to be completed by November 30, 2028.

MSFV

The Mobile Strike Force Vehicle (MSFV) is an upgraded version of the M1117 armored security vehicle, which is already in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The baseline M1117 weighs approximately 13,410 kg (29,565 lb), has a three-person crew, and can carry two additional passengers. The vehicle has a top speed of around 101 km/h (63 mph).

The M1117 is armed with a 40 mm Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher and a 12.7 mm M2HB heavy machine gun, both mounted in a one-man turret. It was one of the first U.S. military vehicles specifically designed with a mine-resistant hull to improve crew survivability against explosive threats.

The MSFV (Mobile Strike Force Vehicle) is a further development of the M1117. The vehicle features an extended hull, additional armor protection, and an enhanced blast-resistant underbody to improve protection against landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Some versions can carry up to 10 personnel, although it remains unclear which specific configurations will be supplied to Ukraine.

A Cummins QSL 365 diesel engine mated to an Allison 3500SP six-speed automatic transmission powers the vehicle. It features 4×4 all-wheel drive and a Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS), allowing tire pressure to be adjusted to suit different terrain and operating conditions.

The M1117 armored security vehicle was first documented in Ukrainian service in March 2024, when it was seen in use by the 425th Skala Assault Battalion. Since then, the vehicle has become part of Ukraine’s growing fleet of Western-supplied armored vehicles.