Expodefensa 2025: IAG Guardian Xtreme 4x4 MRAP gives Colombia a new shield against explosive threats.

International Armored Group has brought its Guardian Xtreme 4x4 mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle to Expodefensa 2025 in Bogotá, where the Colombian Army is putting the platform through local trials. The evaluation comes as Colombia looks to modernize its protected mobility fleet for rural security operations, counternarcotics patrols, and route clearance in areas exposed to mines and improvised explosive devices.

International Armored Group is showcasing the Guardian Xtreme 4x4 MRAP this week at Expodefensa 2025 in Bogotá, positioning the vehicle directly against Colombia's requirement for better-protected troop transport in remote regions. Built around a full V hull floor and certified to STANAG 4569 Level 2 ballistic protection with blast resistance up to Level 2a and 2b, and upgrade paths to Level 3, the platform is being evaluated by the Colombian Army under national terrain and climate conditions before any procurement decision.
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The Guardian Xtreme 4x4 MRAP is being evaluated by the Colombian Army under national terrain and climate conditions before any procurement decision. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Guardian Xtreme, as a mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle, exists in 4×4 and 6×6 configurations, but it is the 4×4 version that is displayed at Expodefensa 2025. The vehicle uses a full V-hull architecture, with a floor designed to deflect the blast wave of explosions under the hull and limit the effect on the crew compartment. According to data provided by IAG, this hull geometry offers mine protection in line with STANAG 4569 Level 2a and 2b, with a possible extension up to Level 3a through additional armor kits. Ballistic protection reaches STANAG 4569 Level 2 for the entire vehicle, including the engine compartment, while lightweight add-on armor modules can raise ballistic protection to STANAG 4569 Level 3. This protection envelope addresses threats encountered in asymmetric operations, especially improvised explosive devices and small arms.

The powerpack range includes several petrol and diesel engines, designed to match the support and supply constraints of different users. The offer includes a 6.7-liter V8 diesel engine rated at 330 horsepower, a 6.2-liter V8 petrol engine rated at 385 horsepower, a 6.8-liter V10 petrol engine delivering 288 horsepower, and a 7.3-liter V8 petrol engine rated at 350 horsepower. All engines are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission that manages torque delivery on difficult terrain. These engines provide the torque needed to offset the mass of the armor while maintaining off-road mobility, particularly in regions where road infrastructure is limited or degraded, a situation that occurs in several parts of Colombian territory.

The Guardian Xtreme carries between ten and twelve personnel, including the driver and vehicle commander. The interior is fitted with certified military-grade blast attenuation seats designed to limit the vertical effects of underbody explosions. The vehicle integrates military-grade components for electrical, mechanical and suspension systems to maintain availability in demanding environments. It is offered with both left-hand and right-hand drive, which allows deployment in a wide range of countries without major changes to ergonomics or driving controls, including in forces such as the Colombian Army, which has to integrate new equipment into already diverse fleets.

The payload and mission equipment can be configured according to user requirements. IAG offers options such as a remotely operated weapon station, thermal imaging cameras for surveillance, grenade launchers, blackout lighting for night operations, and various communication suites. These systems support convoy escort, reconnaissance, perimeter security, and internal security tasks. From a Colombian perspective, the combination of a remotely operated weapon station and thermal sensors provides a tool adapted to monitoring vulnerable road axes, securing critical infrastructure, and supporting operations against armed groups in remote areas, while keeping the crew under armor.

The tactical profile of the Guardian Xtreme matches missions where the balance between protection and mobility is central, particularly in a country such as Colombia, marked by varied terrain and difficult-to-access regions. The V-hull reduces the probability of catastrophic hull failure in mine attacks, while the ballistic protection withstands small arms and machine guns used in convoy attacks or engagements during patrols. The troop-carrying capacity allows rapid transport of infantry sections or police units to dispersed areas, with dismounting through a rear door. On demanding terrain, engine torque and the 10-speed automatic transmission support the crossing of slopes, soft ground, or unprepared tracks, which corresponds to the needs of a force required to operate in mountainous, forested, or border regions.

International Armored Group relies on industrial facilities in several countries and supplies armored vehicles to institutional customers in different regions, which supports the spread of platforms such as the Guardian Xtreme across various theaters. The vehicle presented at Expodefensa 2025 fits into a wider trend in which armed forces and security services look for protected mobility solutions in the face of evolving threats. For Colombia, the ongoing tests aim to determine whether the combination of a V-hull, modular armor, group transport capacity, and tailored mission equipment can help improve the protection of personnel deployed on national territory and support internal security requirements. IAG’s ability to offer an exportable platform available in both 4×4 and 6×6 versions indicates a potential proliferation of this type of vehicle within Colombian forces if the evaluations are positive, and more broadly in other forces facing comparable security challenges.