There’s a new sheriff in town and he goes by the name of ASV.

The M1117 Armored Security Vehicle used by the U.S. Army is the latest and greatest four-wheel drive military vehicle on the market today, more superior in mobility and security than the HMMWV (Humvee), and quicker and stealthier than larger vehicles while retaining some pretty potent firepower.

The best part about the ASV is it’s made right here in St. Tammany Parish.

The U.S. Army'€™s newest vehicle, the M1117 Armored Security Vehicle, is made at the Textron Marine & Land Systems in Slidell. (Staff Photo by Chad Ruiz)

Military contractor, Textron Marine & Land Systems, with three locations in Slidell, is a world leader in the manufacturing of land and watercrafts.

Their repertoire contains a bevy of products including rescue and patrol boats, air cushion vehicles, four- and six-wheeled light armored vehicles, tanks, and turrets ranging from 1 meter to 150mm.

Several branches of the military including the Army, Navy and Coast Guard purchase many of their products, but by far, the largest contract currently is held by the Army who purchases 48 ASVs per month at a hefty price of $692,000 each.

The security company, which employs nearly 1,000 people between their four locations in Slidell and New Orleans, began making the ASVs in 1995 at a very low rate, about three per week, Sr. Vice president and General Manager Tom Walmsley said. It wasn’t until the September 11 attacks in 2001 did the company agree to a contract with the army to revamp production of the security vehicles specifically to be used in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Part of the revamping efforts meant moving the administrative departments into the old DISA building on Gause Boulevard and hiring hundreds more employees.

Currently, 1,500 ASVs are located throughout the world, but mostly concentrated in the Middle East where dozens of troops who’ve personally operated an ASV have contacted Textron individually and thanked them for the stout vehicle.

“We have a lot of moms, dads, sons daughters who’ve walked away from attacks thanks to the ASV,” Walmsley said.

“It’s designed to balance mobility and survivability,” he added.

Specs and Features

The ASV measures nearly 20 feet long, eight and a half feet wide and tall with an 18-inch ground clearance.

It sports jagged sides that form right angles, which are especially proficient at redirecting projectiles off the hull.

And even if a direct hit were to befall the craft, it would have a difficult time finding its way through the several layers of reinforced steel and other materials.

As efficient as the vehicle is at protecting its three occupants, it’s just as good at traversing any type of terrain, including the rugged deserts of Iraq. The ASV boasts several features that allow the vehicle to trudge through water up to five feet deep, climb gradients of 60 percent and trounce obstacles two feet in height.

It also sports huge run flat tires that even if penetrated still possess the means of maneuverability, allowing the troops to escape the volatile situation.

Of course, the ASV also sports the finest in weaponry with a 40mm Mark19 automatic grenade launcher and a .50 caliber automatic machine gun capable of reducing the largest foe to a pile of rubble.

One of the most admired aspects of the vehicle is its air-conditioned/heated interior.

The ASV’s engine is also a thing of power with the 260hp Cummins 6CTA8.3 capable of catapulting the 30,000-pound monster to speeds in excess of 60mph.

Overall, the ASV is a machine of mayhem and survivability that is responsible for bringing countless troops back home unscathed every year.