LAV 700

LIGHT ARMORED VEHICLES

The versatile LAV serves as the backbone of the Canadian Army’s ground combat fleet and also is relied upon by forces in South America and the Indo-Pacific for battlefield mobility, reconnaissance and agility.

LAV II

The LAV II provides mobility and protection for reconnaissance, tactical mobility for effective use of firepower to defeat soft armoured targets, and battlefield survivability to carry out combat missions.

LAV III

The LAV III Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was designed as a response to a growing customer need for greater payload and protection levels. Since being introduced, the LAV III APC fleet has been sold to various customers in a wide range of variants. To date, over 4,200 vehicles have been ordered, with the majority being Strykers for the United States Army.

LAV 6.0

The LAV III Upgrade Project (LAV-UP) will upgrade 550 LAV IIIs of Canada’s fleet in four variants: the Infantry Section Carrier, Command Post, Observation Post Vehicle and Engineer variants. Each will undergo a comprehensive upgrade aimed at extending their lifecycle to 2035.

These upgrades will allow for significant improvements in survivability, mobility and lethality. Survivability enhancements include switching to a Double-V Hull offering inherent and weight efficient protection from mine and IED threats as well as energy-attenuating seats at all crew locations.

A more powerful 450hp engine is included as well as upgrades to the drivetrain and suspension. Turret sights will be upgraded to extend their range and gun control electronics are being improved to reduce crew workload.

The fully upgraded vehicle weighs 55,000lbs (25,000kg), but testing has demonstrated that its mobility is comparable to or better than the original high-mobility 38,000lb APC vehicle that the upgrade is based on.

The LAV 700 features state-of-the-art digital command and control architecture, including health and usage monitoring systems. The self-sealing fuel tanks, energy attenuating seats, add-on armour and scalable ballistic protection add to the increased survivability of the General Dynamics Land Systems double-V^TM hull.

A high-performance driveline and suspension and all-wheel disc brakes are combined with a twin turbo Caterpillar engine, a seven-speed automatic transmission and a cooling system designed for continuous operation in the most extreme climates. This integrated unit can be removed and replaced in well under an hour, even in austere conditions.

All these features are integrated with exceptional attention to detail, fit and finish in a high-capacity chassis rated for more than 32,000 kg. The result is a technologically advanced LAV, with speeds exceeding 110 km/h and a range in excess of 1000 km. Trench crossing capability is greater than 2.2 m and its payload is 11,000 kg.

Like all General Dynamics Land Systems LAVs, the LAV 700 is available in a full range of mission configurations, including: personnel carrier; command and control; direct and indirect fire support incorporating 30 mm and 40 mm weapon systems as well as turreted mortars and assault guns; anti-tank; security, reconnaissance and surveillance; ambulance; and repair and recovery.