The Hellenic Armed Forces have taken delivery of 90 additional M117 Guardian Armored Safety Vehicles from the US under the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program.
The delivery is part of the US government’s plan to supply around 1,200 armored vehicles to Greece by the end of 2022.
Great to welcome 90 more M1117 Armored Security Vehicles to Thessaloniki. By the end of 2022, the US plans to provide 1,200 ASVs to Greece, all free of charge from the 🇺🇸 to the🇬🇷 Army under our Excess Defense Articles program. The 🇺🇸🇬🇷defense partnership is stronger than ever. pic.twitter.com/H0YzOAl5mm
— U.S. Embassy Athens (@USEmbassyAthens) July 25, 2022
US military assets already part of the EDA are no longer included in the army’s inventory.
The US Army utilizes foreign military sales of EDAs to facilitate divestiture and help bolster the capabilities of its allied forces.
In 2021, Greece received its initial batch of 44 M117 Guardian Armored Safety Vehicles.
The vehicles reportedly complement the European nation’s existing weapons systems and provide new capabilities to the armed forces.
M117 Guardian Armored Safety Vehicle
The M117 Guardian is a light armored vehicle capable of providing “supreme” ballistic protection against various small arms and fragmentary threats.
Weighing 30,000 pounds (13,607 kilograms), the vehicle can carry up to four military personnel with all their combat gear.
The M117 has a 40-millimeter MK-19 grenade launcher and a 12.7-millimeter machine gun for neutralizing enemy assets.
Textron integrated an independent suspension system on the vehicle, making it easier to handle on highways and off-road terrain.
The Guardian can also cross rivers and other bodies of water with a depth of up to five feet (1.5 meters).
