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LAV-25

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LAV-25 (Standard Variant)
The LAV-25 is armed with the M242 25mm chain gun, and two M240 machine guns
TypeReconnaissance vehicle [1]
Place of origin Canada
Service history
In service1983-present
Specifications
Mass12.80 t (14.10 sh tn)
Length6.39 m (20.96 ft)
Width2.50 m (8.20 ft)
Height2.69 m (8.83 ft)
Crew3+6
Main
armament
M242 Bushmaster 25 mm chain gun
Secondary
armament
Two FN MAG 7.62 mm machine guns, one mounted coaxially and one pintle mounted on the roof
EngineDetroit Diesel 6V53T
275 hp (205 kW)
Power/weight19.5 hp/sh tn (16.0 kW/t)
TransmissionAllison MT653
Suspension8×8 wheeled
Operational
range
660 km (410 mi)
Maximum speed 100 km/h (62 mph)

The LAV-25 is an eight-wheeled amphibious reconnaissance vehicle used by the United States Marine Corps. It was built by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada and is based on the Swiss MOWAG Piranha I 8x8 family of armored fighting vehicles.

GDLS also makes the LAV III armored vehicle that is based on MOWAG Piranha IIIH 8x8.[2][3]

Design

Powered by a 6V53T Detroit Diesel turbo-charged engine, they are 4-wheel drive (rear wheels) transferable to 8-wheel drive. These vehicles are also amphibious, meaning they have the ability to "swim", but are limited to non-surf bodies of water (no oceans). While engaged in amphibious operations, the maximum speed is approximately 12 km/h using equipped propellers. The current SLEP (Service Life Extension Program) modifications will hinder/eliminate amphibious ops.

Typical land speeds are approximately 100 km/h (62.5 mph) in either 4 or 8-wheel drive, however fuel economy decreases in 8-wheel drive. The vehicles operate on diesel fuel. They are equipped with a M242 Bushmaster 25 mm cannon, two M240 7.62 mm machine guns, and two 4-barrel grenade launchers usually loaded with smoke canisters and located on the forward left and right sides of the turret. The crew is three; Vehicle commander (VC), gunner and driver, and four passengers (scouts) with combat gear.

The vehicle has been through many changes through the late 1990s. The new modification or SLEP has changed the LAV-25 to the LAV-25A1 standard and has been completely fielded.

Variants

LAV-25

LAV-A2

Standard LAV fitted with a turret with 360° traverse, armed with an M242 25 mm chain gun with 420 rounds of 25 mm ammunition, both M791 APDS-T (Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot-Tracer) and M792 HEI-T (High Explosive Incendiary-Tracer), of which half is ready for use. 150 rounds are ready for use from one stowage bin, 60 from another stowage bin, the other 210 rounds are stowed elsewhere in the vehicle. A coaxial M240C machine gun is mounted alongside the M242, and a pintle mounted M240 G/B machine gun, with 1,320 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, is mounted on the turret roof. The Canadian Army uses this chassis for its Coyote Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle.

LAV-25A1

A United States Marine Corps LAV-25 showing a good view of the thermal shroud placed over the exhaust during the SLEP.

The vehicle has been through many changes through the late 1990s. The new modification or SLEP has changed the LAV-25 to the LAV-25A1 standard and has been completely fielded.

LAV-25A2

Funding has been approved for continued upgrades to the LAV family to bring them up to the LAV-A2 standard. Phase I improvements include increased external and internal ballistic armor upgrades, improved fire suppression equipment, and upgrading the vehicle's suspension to the Generation II standard.[4] Phase II upgrades include replacing the turret hydraulics with an electric drive system and replacing the thermal sight with an improved model incorporating a laser range finder.

To reflect the improved significant survivability and capability enhancements occurring today, the LAV is being renamed as the LAV-A2. The LAV-A2 project involved developing and installing an internal and external ballistic protection upgrade package for the Light Armored Vehicles, an automatic fire suppression system for the interior of the vehicle and a Generation II suspension upgrade to support the added weight of the new armor. The suspension upgrade includes new struts/steering knuckles, torsion bars, shocks and mounts and drive shaft. The three-kit armor system provides the LAV with additional survivability against improvised explosive devices (IED) and direct-fire kinetic energy weapons.

LAV-A2 includes the AN/PAS-13 Improved Thermal Sight System (ITSS) developed by Raytheon, scheduled for fielding by the end of 2007. The ITSS provides the gunner and commander with thermal images, an eye-safe laser range finder, a fire-control solution and far-target location target grid information.[5]

The new armor will provide protection from 14.5 mm armor-piercing rounds, and include an anti-spall lining on the inside to further protect crew members. It will be similar to the protection found on the U.S. Army's LAV III "Stryker" variant.[6][7]

Derivatives

  • LAV-AT (Anti-Tank)

LAV fitted with an Emerson 901A1 TOW-2 ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile) launcher, the same turret that was fitted on the M901 ITV (Improved TOW Vehicle). It is also armed with a pintle mounted M240E1 machine gun. It carries a total of 16 TOW missiles, and 1,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.

  • LAV-M (Mortar)

LAV fitted with opening doors on the top, inside it is fitted with an 81mm M252 mortar, with 360° traverse, and a pintle mounted M240E1 machine gun. It carries 99 81mm mortar shells, and 1,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.

D Company, 3rd LAR Bn patrol north of Fallujah in April, 2006
LAV-AD of the USMC during live-fire exercise.
  • LAV-AD (Air Defense)

LAV fitted with an electric turret mounting a General Dynamics GAU-12 Equalizer 25 mm (0.984 in) 5-barreled gatling cannon, and two missile pods each with 4× FIM-92 Stinger missiles for Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) duties. Capacity for 990 rounds of 25 mm ammunition, and 16 (including 8 reload rounds) FIM-92 Stinger missiles. This variant has been removed from service. A variant using the Mistral missile in place of Stingers was developed for the export market.[8]

  • LAV-R (Recovery)

LAV fitted with a boom crane, and recovery winch, for use in recovery of vehicles, specifically other LAVs. It is armed with a pintle mounted M240 E1/G machine gun, and carries 1,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.

  • LAV-C2 (Command & Control)

LAV with a raised roof to accommodate several VHF, UHF and HF radios. It is armed with a pintle mounted M240 E1/G machine gun, and carries 1,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition. Generally referred to as the C2 ("C-square" or "C-two").

  • LAV-LOG (Logistics)

LAV modified for use in a logistics role (e.g., cargo transport).

  • LAV-MEWSS (Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System)

LAV modified for use in an electronic warfare role. Specific details of this variant are classified.

  • LAV-EFSS (Expeditionary Fire Support System)

Proposed replacement for LAV-M, LAV fitted with provisions to use Dragon Fire, a 120mm recoil mortar system.

An unknown variant is used by at least one civilian law enforcement agency.[9]

Comparison with contemporary vehicles

Below is a comparison of some modern IFVs including the LAV-25.

Comparison of some modern IFVs
Fahd-280-30[10][11] BTR-3U [12] VBCI[13] LAV-25[14] Type-92 IFV[15] BTR-90[14][16]
Origin Egypt Ukraine France Canada China Russia
Weight 10.9 t (12.0 short tons) 16.4 t (18.1 short tons) 26 t (29 short tons) 12.8 t (14.1 short tons) 12.5 t (13.8 short tons) 20.9 t (23.0 short tons)
Main armament 30 mm (1.2 in) 2A42 automatic cannon 30 mm (1.2 in) Dual-feed cannon 25 mm (0.98 in) NATO dual feed cannon 25 mm (0.98 in) M242 chain gun 30 mm (1.2 in) Auto cannon [1] 30 mm (1.2 in) 2A42 automatic cannon
Secondary armament 7.62 mm (0.300 in) FN MAG machine gun 7.62 mm (0.300 in) coax machine gun 7.62 mm (0.300 in) coax machine gun 7.62 mm (0.300 in) M240 machine gun 7.62 mm (0.300 in) coax machine gun 7.62 mm (0.300 in) PKT machine gun
Missile (Range) AT-5 Spandrel (70–4000 meters) AT-5 Spandrel (70–4000 meters) - - - AT-5 Spandrel (70–4000 meters)
Road range 700 km (430 mi) 600 km (370 mi) 750 km (470 mi) 660 km (410 mi) 800 km (500 mi) 800 km (500 mi)
Road speed 100 km/h (62 mph) 85 km/h (53 mph) 100 km/h (62 mph) 100 km/h (62 mph) 85 km/h (53 mph) 100 km/h (62 mph)
Capacity 3 crew + 10 passengers 3 crew + 6 passengers 2 crew + 9 passengers 3 crew + 6 passengers (only 4 armed soldiers) 3 crew + 9 passengers 3 crew + 9 passengers

History

The LAV-25 is due to be replaced with the Marine Personnel Carrier pending cancellation. This vehicle is to arrive no earlier than 2015.

See also

Marines offloading from an LCAC craft, during an amphibious assault exercise conducted during Exercise COBRA GOLD 2002.

References

  1. ^ "armored+personnel+carrier"&hl=en&ei=NohETc2YGIP7lwflta0h&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=LAV-25 "armored personnel carrier"&f=false "Modern U.S. tanks & AFVs". Zenith Imprint. 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2011. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "LAV III/NZLAV". Deagel.com. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
  3. ^ "Army-Technology – Piranha III / LAV III Wheeled Armoured Vehicles". Retrieved 2008-02-15.
  4. ^ MCA Continues LAV Upgrades[dead link]
  5. ^ http://www.olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_lav.php3
  6. ^ http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Spending+outlook:+Marine+Corps+procurement+forecast+clouded+by+bleak...-a0146956688
  7. ^ http://defensenews-updates.blogspot.com/2010/08/dtn-news-general-dynamics-to-supply-24.html
  8. ^ Army Technology - Blazer
  9. ^ Sheriff’s vehicle has many uses
  10. ^ "FAHD armoured vehicle". Arab Organization for Industrialization. Archived from the original on September 12, 2007. Retrieved 2009-01-27. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "FAHD". Kader factory. Archived from the original on May 22, 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-27. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "BTR-3U Armoured Personnel Carrier". KMDB. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  13. ^ "VBCI Wheeled Infantry Fighting Vehicle, France". army-technology.com. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  14. ^ a b "Light Armored Vehicle-25 (LAV-25)". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2008-09-28. Cite error: The named reference "GSspec" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  15. ^ "ZSL92 Wheeled Armoured Vehicle". SinoDefence. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  16. ^ "BTR-90". onwar.com. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
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