US transfers first Oshkosh M-ATVs armored vehicles to Uruguay to enhance security operations in high-risk zones.

As reported by InfoDefensa on May 21, 2025, six Oshkosh M-ATVs and six Oshkosh MK23 6x6 medium tactical cargo trucks were unloaded at the port of Montevideo, Uruguay. These vehicles are part of a larger procurement agreement under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program signed in 2024 between Uruguay and the United States. The total contract covers the transfer of 36 M-ATVs and 60 MK23s, all sourced from former United States Marine Corps stocks. The vehicles are intended to modernize the fleet of the Uruguayan National Army, as well as supporting both national operations and participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions, which require contributors to deploy platforms of recent construction or refurbishment.
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The acquisition process began in July 2023 when a Uruguayan delegation visited the US Marine Depot Maintenance Command (MDMC) in California to conduct joint visual inspections of available M-ATVs. (Picture source: Gabriel Porfillo via Twitter/SA Defensa)

The acquisition process began in July 2023 when a Uruguayan delegation visited Marine Depot Maintenance Command (MDMC) at the Yermo Annex of Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow in California to conduct joint visual inspections of available M-ATVs. These vehicles, known for their mine-resistant and ambush-protected characteristics, had been withdrawn from frontline U.S. Marine Corps use and placed into excess defense inventory. During the inspection, the National Army of Uruguay selected 36 M1240 M-ATV vehicles, initiating refurbishment and service work at Barstow under the supervision of MDMC’s Production Plant Barstow (PPB) and Marine Corps Systems Command - International Programs Office, in coordination with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. Southern Command. The repairs include annual servicing and corrections based on inspection findings from July 2023. Paul Niemeyer, project officer at PPB, MDMC, emphasized that this effort not only supports U.S.-Uruguay military cooperation but also sustains workforce expertise and industrial capacity at the U.S. maintenance facilities.

A second delegation from Uruguay visited Barstow in June 2024 to inspect 60 MK23 cargo trucks, also part of the MTVR family. These 6x6 tactical trucks had been declared surplus by the U.S. Marine Corps and were selected for refurbishment to meet mission-capable standards. Work on the MK23s is scheduled to begin during fiscal year 2025 and will involve structural and mechanical servicing to return the vehicles to operational use. According to Gregory Reynolds of Marine Corps Systems Command, this acquisition further strengthens bilateral defense relations. The MK23 platform represents a substantial upgrade for the Uruguayan Army, which had long depended on older Russian Ural 4320 trucks and outdated Dutch vehicles. With the war in Ukraine exacerbating parts shortages and driving up maintenance costs, the shift to the MTVR family addresses logistical vulnerabilities while enhancing readiness.

The current procurement builds upon a series of agreements and donations between Uruguay and the United States, including the planned delivery of 14 Osprea Mamba MK7 armored vehicles scheduled for September 2024. The Mambas, equipped with .50 caliber weapon mounts and mine protection, are intended to reinforce two Mechanized Sections within the Uruguayan Army. The combined acquisition of M-ATVs, MK23s, and Mambas represents a coordinated strategy to overhaul Uruguay’s aging fleet with standardized and mission-ready platforms. These efforts reflect a broader doctrine of modernization driven by both national security needs and requirements for international deployments under the UN. Each of these systems provides enhanced protection, mobility, and reliability over legacy equipment and demonstrates Uruguay’s commitment to building a more capable and modern land force.

Uruguay’s M-ATVs are M1240 variants fitted with the Objective Gunner Protection Kit (OGPK), which supports mounting of either a .50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun or a Mk19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. (Picture source: Gabriel Porfillo via Twitter/SA Defensa)

The Oshkosh M-ATV (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle) originated from a 2008 U.S. Department of Defense initiative to develop a lightweight MRAP capable of improved mobility in Afghanistan’s terrain. A competitive selection process in 2009 resulted in Oshkosh being awarded the production contract. The company delivered over 8,700 vehicles to various branches of the U.S. military, including the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy, and Special Operations Command. The M-ATV combined a V-shaped armored hull developed by Plasan of Israel with TAK-4 independent suspension and components adapted from the MTVR chassis. Production rates peaked at 1,000 units per month. The M-ATV was subsequently fielded in multiple conflict zones, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, and later underwent reset and upgrade programs to align all retained units with a common production standard designated LRIP 22.

Uruguay’s M-ATVs are M1240 variants fitted with the Objective Gunner Protection Kit (OGPK), which supports mounting of either a .50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun or a Mk19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. The platform includes a 7.2-liter Caterpillar C7 engine generating 370 horsepower and 925 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 6-speed Allison 3500SP automatic transmission. The vehicle features a composite armored hull, engine fire suppression system, central tire inflation system (CTIS), run-flat tire capability, HVAC for the crew, and power outlets for onboard electronics. The M1240 has a curb weight of 12,500 kg, a maximum gross weight of 14,700 kg, and a ground clearance of 375 mm. It offers a top speed of 105 km/h and a maximum range of 510 km. Crew configuration is four seated occupants and one turret gunner. Uruguay will deploy the vehicles for national roles such as reconnaissance and border control, and for international missions under UN frameworks.

M-ATVs have been transferred to or procured by multiple foreign militaries. The United Arab Emirates initially ordered 55 vehicles through FMS in 2011, followed by 750 more in 2012, with final deliveries completed in 2013. Saudi Arabia received approximately 1,859 M-ATVs, including standard and extended wheelbase variants. Croatia received 162 units via U.S. donation in 2014, allocated across Special Forces, Support Command, Military Police, and regular infantry brigades. Poland received 45 vehicles for special forces use in 2015. Additional recipients include Iraq, Somalia (under African Union deployment), Uzbekistan, and Ukraine. The latter received an unknown number of M-ATVs in early 2023, reportedly under the January 2023 U.S. aid package that included 55 unnamed MRAPs. As of January 2025, open-source documentation confirms at least 28 M-ATVs lost in Ukraine. M-ATV variants include command, assault, utility, engineer, and medical versions, as well as platforms equipped for counter-UAS roles and unmanned operations.

A second delegation from Uruguay visited Barstow in June 2024 to inspect 60 MK23 6x6 tactical trucks which had been declared surplus by the U.S. Marine Corps. (Picture source: Gabriel Porfillo via Twitter/SA Defensa)

The MTVR (Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements) program, from which the MK23 cargo truck is derived, originated in the late 1990s as the U.S. Marine Corps sought to replace its aging M809 and M939 5-ton truck fleet. Oshkosh Defense was awarded the development and production contract in 1999. The MK23 is the standard cargo variant with a 4.674-meter wheelbase and was first fielded in 2001. Powered by an 11.9-liter Caterpillar C-12 engine delivering 425 hp and 1,550 lb-ft of torque, the MK23 uses an Allison HD 4070P 7-speed automatic transmission and Oshkosh 30000 single-speed transfer case. It features TAK-4 independent suspension on all axles, a payload capacity of 7 U.S. tons off-road, and a maximum range of 483 km. The truck can climb 60% gradients, traverse 40% side slopes, and ford up to 1.52 meters of water. With a curb weight of 13,200 kg, it reaches a top speed of 105 km/h. Standard features include armor-ready cabs, CTIS, beadlock wheels, and options for mission-specific modular rear bodies.

Uruguay’s MK23 trucks were selected in June 2024 and will undergo maintenance and refurbishment beginning in fiscal year 2025. These trucks will replace aging Ural 4320 vehicles in Uruguayan service. The switch to MK23s is driven by increasing maintenance difficulties linked to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, which has disrupted supply chains for parts. The MK23s are expected to significantly improve Uruguay’s logistics capacity and reliability in troop and equipment transport. The vehicles will also support deployment for international operations. The MTVR’s modularity allows installation of troop carrier compartments and Armor Protection Kits (APK), with additional survivability upgrades like the MTVR Armor System – Survivability Upgrade (MAS-SU) and the Reducible Height variant (MAS-RH). These features enhance flexibility in various mission types and allow for future adaptation depending on operational needs.

International use of the MK23 and other MTVR variants includes deliveries to the United Kingdom, which received 357 vehicles beginning in 2003 under a long-term contract for Close Support Tankers, Tactical Aircraft Refuelers, and water carriers. Greece received 73 MK27 chassis between 2004 and 2006, fitted with recovery systems and configured as ammunition transporters. Iraq has used MTVRs supplied under stabilization support programs. While the MTVR is primarily used by the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy Seabees—with 11,359 units delivered—it has also served as the base platform for engineering, resupply, and specialized logistics applications, including integration with the HIMARS resupply system (MK37), firefighting (Hawk Extreme), and autonomous vehicle demonstrations (TerraMax). The MK23 is air-transportable by C-5, C-17, and C-130 aircraft and can be underslung by a CH-53 helicopter. With their entry into Uruguayan service, MK23 trucks are expected to fulfill a range of national support functions, replacing obsolete platforms and integrating into multi-role deployment plans.