500 American Armored Reconnaissance Vehicles have so far been received by the Army and forwarded mainly to the Islands and Evros Units. And while the M-1117s are already being used operationally, a group of specialized GES Executives is leaving for the USA in order to select the next 700 Guardians in order to complete the total number of 1200 wheeled armored vehicles which the Americans provide free of charge through EDA to the Hellenic Armed Forces. This is the 3rd level of officers that is moving to America since the beginning of the program implementation in order to pass through “x-rays” the M-1117s stored under concession.
m1117 parelasi1 At the same time in the final stretch is the process of acquiring grenade launchers and electrically fired 0.50 machine guns which will be placed on the largest number of the 1200 Guardians which will be acquired in total. The Army Staff, in order to gain time so as not to lose the freely offered M-1117 wheeled vehicles, acquired them without the valuable grenade launchers but also the electrically fired “fifty” machine guns. Then, through the prescribed procedures, he requested in writing with a Letter of Availability and Price to acquire their weapons and finally reach an agreement with the Americans for the purchase of the grenade launchers and electrically fired machine guns at a low cost for approximately 85 million. Within 2023 it is expected to receive them and immediately equip the M-1117s with priority to those that have already joined the arsenal of the frontline Units on islands and Evros.
The transportation and operational utilization of the Guardians, especially in our arid islands, caused severe irritation to the neighbors who even rushed to publish photos of the M-1117 being unloaded by Fleet Tankers in Lesvos and Samos.
Already the first impressions reaching the Military Staff from the Units for the utilization of the Guardians show that these are vehicles that “untie the hands” of the Executives since they can undertake a series of missions. Their speed and maneuverability especially on the narrow roads of the islands enable rapid deployment in areas of high importance for defense. In addition, they are wheeled vehicles that are particularly easy to use and do not present maintenance problems. After all, when they arrived in Greece they were in very good condition despite the fact that they were not used by the American Army. The mere fact that in operations such as the Gulf War they were a key vehicle for reconnaissance as well as guarding facilities demonstrates their usefulness. 100 of the Guardians that will be acquired are expected to be given to the Air Force in order to assume a surveillance and guarding role in all the Combat Wings, while armored wheeled vehicles will also be received by Units of the Third Army Corps.
At the same time as the rest of the M-1117, the Army is expected to acquire for free from the Americans also through EDA about 50 powerful OSHKOSH tank carriers. Extremely valuable vehicles that the Army uses to quickly and safely transport tanks either for exercises or for maintenance. While in case of operations they will have a key role in the immediate transfer of reserves to the frontline Units at the land border in Evros.
