December 12, 2007: Bulgarian peacekeepers headed for Afghanistan needed armored vehicles, and selected the U.S. Army M1117 ASVs (Armored Security Vehicles). They paid $1.5 million each. The U.S. Army pays about half that, for much larger orders (the last one was for over 700). The ASV was, in effect, one of the first MRAPs (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) to get to Iraq.

Originally developed in the 1990s for use by MPs in combat zones, only a few were bought initially. It was found that for peacekeeping, existing armored vehicles were adequate, and that in the narrow streets of Balkan towns, the ASV was too wide to be very maneuverable. Then came Iraq. Suddenly, the ASV was very popular. The army got lots more because military police like these vehicles a lot. The MPs originally wanted 2,000 ASVs, but before Iraq, were told they would be lucky to get a hundred. Now the MPs may end up with over a thousand.

The ASV is a 13 ton armored car that is built to handle the kind of crap terrorists are dealing out in Iraq. The ASVs are, unlike armored hummers, built from the ground up as an armored trucks. ASVs are 20 feet long and 8.5 feet wide, making them a bit larger than hummers. Usually, each ASV carries a .50 caliber machine-gun and a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. The ASV is heavy enough to survive most roadside bombs and keep going. The ASV is bullet, and RPG proof. The turret is the same one used on the U.S. Marine Corps LAV. When the marines went shopping for armored trucks, however, they passed on the ASV. This is believed to be mainly because most armored trucks have more room inside.