The US Army took another significant step forward in the strategic withdrawal of combat forces from Afghanistan last week with the shipment of the first 18 production mobile strike force vehicles (MSFVs) to theatre.

These 18 vehicles are the first of 281 MSFVs that will be provided to the Afghan National Army (ANA), to enable a quick reaction force (QRF) capability. This capability will be critical once US forces begin their drawdown.

“The MSFV provides each QRF Kandak [battalion] with a rapidly deployable, highly mobile armoured capability that can quickly manoeuvre in an all-terrain environment, while concurrently providing the ANA with sufficient firepower to conduct a wide variety of operational missions over an extended range and distance,” said Captain Joseph Denning, Product Manager for Armored Security Vehicle.

The MSFV is a modified and updated version of a Textron marine and land systems vehicle platform design that has over four decades of proven performance. The modifications on the MSFV allow for additional protection while still utilising commercial off-the-shelf parts.