Armour ih Canada: Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) III

Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) III

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LAV III, 2 RCR, 5 Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, New Brunswick, 2 May 2011.  

The LAV III is the third generation of the Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) family of armored personnel carriers built by General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada (GDLS-C), a London, Ontario, based subsidiary of General Dynamics. It first entered service in 1999, succeeding the LAV II. It is the primary mechanized infantry vehicle of both the Canadian Army and the New Zealand Army. It also forms the basis of the Stryker vehicle used by the U.S. Army and other operators. The Canadian Army is upgrading its LAV IIIs to the LAV 6 standard. Early in its development history it was referred to as the 'Kodiak', but the name was never officially adopted.

The LAV III is fitted with a two-man turret, armed with the M242 Bushmaster 25 mm caliber chain gun and a coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun. One more 5.56 mm or 7.62 mm machine guns is positioned on top of the turret. The LAV III also has eight 76-mm grenade launchers in two clusters of four launchers positioned on each side of the turret. The grenade launchers are intended for smoke grenades. In 2009, a number of LAV III's were modified with a Nanuk remotely controlled weapon station (RCWS) to provide better protection and to increase the chances of survival of the crew against improvised explosive devices and anti-tank mine threats on the battlefield. (Wikipedia)

In October 2011, GDLS-Canada was awarded a contract to upgrade 409 of the service's 651 LAV III APCs to the LAV 6 standard. Four variants were ordered: an infantry section carrier, a command post, an observation post and an engineer vehicle. The upgrade was expected to extend the service life of the vehicle to 2035. In February 2017, the service awarded GDLS-Canada a $404 million contract to upgrade 141 more LAV IIIs. In August 2019, GDLS-Canada received a four-year, $3 billion deal to build 360 armoured combat support vehicle variants. The first of these rolled off the assembly line in May 2021. (Wikipedia)

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LAV III, Camp Warehouse, Kabul, Afghanistan, spring 2004.

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LAV III, Camp Warehouse, Kabul, Afghanistan, spring 2004.

Author with LAV IIIs, Camp Warehouse, Kabul, Afghanistan, spring 2004.

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LAV III, 2RCR preparing to head out on exercise at 5 CDSB Gagetown, 2 May 2011.

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LAV III on duty, heading out of the Engineer Compound at 5 CDSB Gagetown, New Brunswick, 5 May 2014.

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The LAV III light armoured vehicle (LAV) is built by General Dynamics Land Systems, entering service in 1999.  It is based on the Swiss MOWAG Piranha IIIH 8x8.  It was developed in Canada and is the primary mechanized infantry vehicle of the Canadian Army and the New Zealand Army.  The United States Army uses a more lightly armed LAV III derivative named the Stryker.

By July 1991, the Canadian Forces had identified the need to replace their aging fleet of 1960s and 1970s era armoured personnel carriers.  As a result, $2.8 billion was earmarked for the Multi-Role Combat Vehicle (MRCV) Project by the sitting Conservative government.  The mandate of the MRCV project was to provide a series of vehicles based on a common chassis which would replace the M113 armoured personnel carrier, Lynx reconnaissance vehicle, Grizzly armoured personnel carrier, and Bison armoured personnel carrier.  The project was, however, deemed unaffordable and cancelled by March 1992.

By 1994 after the Liberal Party had returned to government, the army was still in need of new vehicles.  As a result, the army embarked on the Light Armoured Vehicle Project, which would adapt parts of the MRCV Project, and be implemented incrementally to spread out the costs.  Also, the requirement to replace the Bisons was dropped.  The first phase of the project saw the selection of the Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle to replace the Lynx.  On August 16, 1995, it was announced that General Motors Diesel Division (later renamed GM Defense, and subsequently purchased by General Dynamics Land Systems) of London, Ontario, had been awarded the contract to produce the LAV III which would replace the Grizzly and a large portion of the M113 armoured personnel carriers.  The LAV III would incorporate the turret and weapon system used with the Coyote (which was produced at the same location), and the latest, heaviest version of MOWAG’s Piranha family which would be “Canadianized” and built locally.

The LAV III is powered by a Caterpillar 3126 diesel engine developing 350 horsepower, and can reach speeds of 100 kilometres per hour.  The vehicle is fitted with 8x8 drive and also equipped with a central tire inflation system, which allows it to adjust to different terrain, including off-road.  The LAV III is fitted with a modern anti-locking brake system (ABS) and a traction control system (TCS).  Unlike earlier versions of the LAV, the LAV III does not have any amphibious capabilities.

The LAV III faces the same concerns that most other wheeled military vehicles face.  Like all wheeled armoured vehicles, the LAV III’s ground pressure is inherently higher than a tracked vehicle with a comparable weight.  This is a result of the fact that tires will have less surface area in contact with the ground when compared to a tracked vehicle.  Higher ground pressure results in an increased likelihood of sinking into soft terrain such as mud, snow and sand, leading to the vehicle becoming stuck.  The lower ground pressure and improved traction offered by tracked vehicles also gives them an advantage over vehicles like the LAV III when it comes to managing slopes, trenches, and other obstacles.

The LAV III can somewhat compensate for these effects by deflating its tires slightly, meaning that the surface area in contact with the ground increases, and the ground pressure is slightly lowered.  However, wheels offer several advantages over tracked vehicles, including lower maintenance for both the vehicle and road infrastructure, quieter movement for improved stealth, greater speed over good terrain, and higher ground clearance for protection against mines and improvised explosive devices.

The LAV III‘s turret gives the vehicle a higher centre of gravity than the vehicle was initially designed for.  This has led to concerns that the vehicle is more likely to roll over on uneven terrain.  While there have been several recorded rollovers (about 12), the most common cause was found to be unstable terrain, specifically road shoulders unexpectedly giving away beneath the vehicle.  The weight balance of the LAV III is taken into consideration during driver training, largely mitigating the chances of a rollover.

The basic armour of the LAV III, covering the Standardization Agreement STANAG 4569 level III, which provides an all-round protection against 7.62x51-mm NATO.  Ceramic appliqué armour (MEXAS) can be added, which protects against 14.5x114-mm Heavy calibre rounds from 500 meters.  In December 2008 the Government of Canada awarded EODC Engineering, Developing and Licensing Inc. C$81.5 million worth of contracts to provide for add-on-armour kits, modules and spares for its LAV III wheeled armoured personnel carriers.  This armour kit is intended to provide increased protection against Improvised Explosive Device (IED), Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP) and 30-mm calibre armour piercing rounds.  The LAV III can be also fitted with cage armour, which provides protection against shaped charges.  The LAV III is fitted with a nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC) filtration system accompanied with a GID-3 chemical detector and AN/VDR 2 radiation detector systems.  The LAV III was designed to produce a very low and very compact structure to minimize radar and IR-signatures.  The LAV III also uses heat-absorbing filters to provide temporary protection against thermal imaging (TIS), image intensifier and infrared camera (IR).

The majority of Canadian casualties in Afghanistan have occurred during a patrol aboard a LAV III.  This can be explained by the fact that the LAV III is the most commonly used Canadian armoured personnel carrier in theatre, and simply represents a normal association between use and likelihood to encounter a mine or improvised explosive device.  The LAV III offers comparable or better protection than most other infantry carriers used in Afghanistan.  In an effort to improve protection as a result of experiences in Afghanistan, future LAV III upgrades will likely include improved mine and IED protection.

The LAV III is fitted with a two-man turret, armed with the M242 Bushmaster 25-mm calibre chain gun and coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun.  One more 5.56-mm or 7.62-mm machine gun is positioned on top of the turret.  The LAV-III have also has eight 76-mm grenades in two clusters of four launchers positioned on each side of the turret.  The grenade launchers are intended for smoke grenades.

The LAV III is equipped with a daytime optical, Thermal Imaging System (TIS) and Generation III Image Intensification (II).  The LAV III is equipped with a Tactical Navigation System (TacNav) to assist them in navigation and target location tasks.  The LAV III is equipped with a LCD monitor directly connected to the vehicle’s external cameras, providing real-time images of the battlefield for the passengers.

In July 2009, the Canadian Department of National Defence announced that $5 billion would be spent to enhance, replace and repair the Army’s armoured vehicles.  Part of the spending would be used to replace and repair damaged LAV IIIs due wear and tear from operations in Afghanistan.  As much as 33 percent of the Army’s light armoured vehicles were out of service.  Furthermore, the LAV IIIs will be upgraded with improved protection and automotive components.

Of the $5 billion announced, approximately 20% of it will be used to upgrade LAV III models.  The upgrade will extend the LAV III life span to 2035.  The remaining $4 billion is to be spent on a “new family of land combat vehicles”.  The Department of National Defence is considering the purchase of a vehicle meant to accompany the Leopard 2 and to sustain the LAV-III into combat.  The CV90, the Puma (IFV) and the Véhicule blindé de combat d’infanterie are the most likely candidates for the role.  A contract of 108 with an option for up to 30 more is under consideration.  Wikipedia.

651 LAV IIIs have been in service with the Canadian Forces at home and abroad on United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), Kosovo (UNMIK), Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH), Haiti (UNMIH), as well as in the War in Afghanistan with the Kabul Multi-National Brigade and in Kandahar with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).  Wikipedia.

LAV III variants:

TOW Under Armour (TUA) - Standard LAV III turret replaced with TOW Under Armour launcher for anti-tank purposes.

Infantry Section Carrier (ISC) - Surplus LAV TUA hulls fitted with a Nanuk Remotely Controlled Weapon Station.

Observation Post Vehicle (OPV) - Standard LAV III equipped for use by a Forward Observation Officer (FOO).

Command Post Vehicle (CPV) - Standard LAV III equipped for command post duties.

Engineer LAV (ELAV) - LAV III equipped with a dozer blade and other engineering equipments.

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LAV 6/

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