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Expodefensa 2025: Colombia Debuts Hunter TR-12-2026 Armored Vehicle Built for Extreme Combat Conditions.
Armor International introduced the Hunter TR-12-2026 at Expodefensa 2025 as the newest upgrade to its 4x4 armored vehicle line. The launch reflects Colombia’s growing ambition to compete in regional and U.S. defense markets with a mature, MRAP-style platform.
During Expodefense 2025, Colombian manufacturer Armor International unveiled the Hunter TR-12-2026 as the latest evolution of its 4×4 tactical armored vehicle family, signalling a clear shift toward the international market. Building on more than a decade of operational experience with earlier TR-12 variants, the company now positions this model for customers not only in Colombia but also in Chile, Ecuador, the United States and other regional partners. In a context of persistent internal security challenges, cross-border crime and asymmetric threats in Latin America, a mine-resistant, ambush-protected platform tailored to regional environments has clear strategic relevance. The Hunter TR-12-2026 is presented as a mature, configurable solution for armed forces, police and gendarmerie units facing both rural insurgency and urban unrest. Its appearance at Expodefensa 2025 therefore, goes beyond a simple product refresh and illustrates Colombia’s ambition to play a stronger role in the defence industry landscape.
The Hunter TR-12-2026 revealed at Expodefensa 2025 introduces a strengthened hull, updated mobility systems and new mission-ready configurations for modern tactical operations (Picture Source: Army Recognition Group)
The Hunter TR-12-2026 remains a multipurpose MRAP-type 4×4 vehicle designed to perform troop transport, cargo missions, ambulance roles, public-order support and special operations in difficult terrain. Based on a Navistar Defense International CV series chassis with permanent 4×4 traction, it incorporates a welded armored monocoque hull that transforms a proven commercial platform into a fully militarised tactical vehicle. With a reference combat weight of around 10,200 kg, it sits in the category of heavy tactical armored trucks, capable of carrying a crew of two and up to a squad of dismounts or, alternatively, mission-specific equipment. High ground clearance, a boxy but functional silhouette and a rear troop compartment with rapid entry and exit arrangements underline its design for intensive use in complex operational environments.
Protection and survivability are central to the TR-12-2026 concept. The armored capsule features a pronounced V-shaped floor intended to deflect the blast of mines and improvised explosive devices away from the crew compartment. The armor package is dimensioned to protect against common assault rifle calibers such as 5.56×45 mm and 7.62×39/51 mm, while also mitigating fragmentation from roadside ambushes and explosive devices. Windshield and side windows are guarded by external metal mesh grilles, providing a first layer of defence against stones, debris and shrapnel in both rural and urban scenarios. Inside, blast-resistant seating and the internal arrangement are designed to reduce the risk of injury from underbody explosions, aligning the vehicle with contemporary MRAP standards rather than simple patrol vehicle benchmarks.
The automotive suite is tailored to sustain this level of protection without compromising mobility. The TR-12-2026 is powered by a 6.6-liter V8 diesel engine delivering approximately 350 hp, coupled to an Allison automatic transmission and a dual-range Hi-Low transfer case to balance on-road speed and off-road torque. Rigid axle suspension is configured for heavy loads and harsh terrain, while ventilated disc brakes with ABS help maintain control on steep, wet or loose surfaces. Military 335/80 R20 tyres fitted with runflat inserts allow the vehicle to continue moving after punctures or partial damage, a critical attribute during ambushes or riots. An electro-assisted steering system and relatively compact 4×4 footprint support manoeuvrability in narrow urban streets, jungle tracks and mountain roads where many Latin American forces conduct daily operations. A front-mounted heavy-duty winch adds organic recovery capability for self-extraction or support to lighter vehicles.
One of the most visible evolutions of the TR-12-2026 showcased at Expodefensa 2025 is the fully enclosed, armored weapon station on the roof. This polygonal turret, with sloped panels and multiple vision blocks, provides 360-degree engagement capability while keeping the gunner under armor. In the configuration presented, it mounts an FN Herstal M249 5.56×45 mm light machine gun, suitable for suppressive fire in patrol and internal security roles. However, the station is designed to be adaptable to other weapons, including heavier machine guns or automatic grenade launchers, depending on user requirements and regulations. This modularity allows operators to scale the vehicle’s firepower for patrol escort, high-risk area security or crowd-control scenarios. Externally, wire-mesh stowage cages, provision for antennae and potential sensor masts, along with multiple hatches and firing ports, confirm the vehicle’s role as a tactical workhorse able to support a broad spectrum of missions.
Operational history gives the TR-12-2026 a depth that many new designs lack. Earlier TR-12 variants emerged in the early 2010s and were adopted by Colombian forces for use in internal conflict zones, particularly in rural departments affected by non-state armed groups and IED threats. Over time, the family expanded into different sub-variants with improved ergonomics, access angles and thermal management, shaped by feedback from operators engaged in counter-insurgency, convoy protection and urban public-order missions. The platform has also been exported to Suriname and Chile, where it has been used by armed forces and security forces for high-risk patrols and riot-control tasks, proving its adaptability to different doctrines and policing cultures. The TR-12-2026 is thus less a clean-sheet design than the culmination of an iterative process driven by real-world employment in diverse and demanding scenarios.
Tactically, the Hunter TR-12-2026 aims to provide a compact yet highly protected solution to the increasingly blurred boundary between military and internal security operations. Its mine-resistant architecture, armored turret and runflat tyres respond to the risks posed by IEDs, ambushes and armed criminal groups, while its 4×4 footprint and configurable interior support roles ranging from special forces insertion to casualty evacuation and public-order control. The same platform can protect a platoon in a remote rural area, escort convoys along major highways or act as a protected barrier and command node during urban disturbances. Strategically, the vehicle illustrates Colombia’s determination to emerge as a regional defence supplier, offering a product designed from the outset for Latin American terrain, climate and threat profiles. If Armor International successfully turns the visibility gained at Expodefensa 2025 into contracts with neighbours such as Chile and Ecuador, or even niche users in the United States, it would confirm that Latin America is not solely a consumer but also a credible exporter in the protected mobility segment.
The Hunter TR-12-2026 therefore represents both an industrial statement and an operational tool for contemporary security challenges. It consolidates lessons learned over more than a decade of use in Colombia and abroad into a platform configured for export, combining mine resistance, adaptable armament, robust mobility and multi-role flexibility in a single 4×4 chassis. In a region where armed forces and police are simultaneously confronting insurgency, organized crime and social unrest, such a vehicle offers a concrete option for improving force protection and operational reach. Its presence at Expodefensa 2025 sends a clear message: Colombia intends to be part of the answer to evolving threats, not only through its own modernisation but by offering a mature, mission-proven armored solution to partners facing similar security environments.