LAV 6 explained

LAV 6
Type:Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Origin:Canada
Is Vehicle:yes
Service:2016–present
Used By:See Operators
Designer:General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada[1]
Design Date:2009–2011
Manufacturer:General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada, General Dynamics Mission Systems - Canada[2]
Production Date:2012–2019 (LAV 6), 2020–present (ACSV)
Variants:See Variants
Mass:Basic: 20638NaN, Add-on Armour: 28576NaN
Length:7.827m (25.679feet)
Width:3.25m (10.66feet)
Height:3.266m (10.715feet)
Crew:3
Passengers:8
Primary Armament:1 x M242 Bushmaster 25 mm chain gun (210rnds) or 1 x RWS C6 GPMG 7.62 mm machine gun (2,200rnds)
Secondary Armament:C6 GPMG
Engine:Caterpillar C9 Turbo-charged six-cylinder Diesel
Engine Power:450 hp
Pw Ratio:15.7 hp/t
Suspension:Independent Hydropneumatic
Fuel Capacity:414l[3]
Vehicle Range:Road: 600km (400miles)
Cross country: 450km (280miles)
Speed:100km/h, Offroad: 40km/h

The LAV 6, sometimes written as LAV 6.0 or LAV VI, is the fourth generation of LAV, and is based on the LAV III. The first vehicles were delivered in 2013 and after testing entered service in 2016. The Canadian Army plans to replace its entire LAV fleet of various LAV II and LAV III variants with the LAV 6. The vehicle is being acquired in two main variants: a fighting vehicle equipped with the 25mm cannon seen on the LAV II and LAV III, and a support variant labelled the Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV).

History

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 III's due to wear and tear from operations in Afghanistan. As many as one third of the Army's light armoured vehicles were out of service.[4] The LAV III's would be upgraded with improved protection and automotive components.[5]

The Canadian Armed Forces lost over 34 vehicles and 359 were damaged during the mission in Afghanistan. The Canadian Army lost 13 LAVs and more than 159 were damaged by roadside bombs or enemy fire.[6] Of the $5 billion announced, approximately 20% of it was intended to be used to upgrade LAV III models. The upgrade extended the LAV III life span to 2035. The remaining $4 billion was to be spent on a "new family of land combat vehicles".[7]

The Department of National Defence considered the purchase of a Close Combat Vehicle, meant to accompany the Leopard 2 and to support the LAV III in combat. The CV90, the Puma (IFV) and the Véhicule blindé de combat d'infanterie were the most likely candidates for the role. A contract of 108 with an option for up to 30 more was considered.[8] [9] [10] The success of the upgrade program and budget pressures led to the cancellation of the Close Combat Vehicle replacement program.[11]

In October 2011, the Canadian government announced a $1.1 billion contract to General Dynamics Land Systems to upgrade 550 LAV III combat vehicles. The government said the upgrade was needed to improve protection against mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which have been the cause of a number of Canadian deaths in Afghanistan. The improvements will also extend the service of the vehicles up to 2035 and will boost troop mobility.[12] [13] [14]

The upgrades include a new and more powerful engine, increased armour protection, and improved steering and brake systems. The turret hatches on the LAV III would be made larger and fire control, thermal, day and low-light sights, and data displays would be improved. The weight of the vehicle would increase from 38000lb to 55000lb.[15] [16]

In September 2012, the original contract valued at $1.064 billion to upgrade the 550 LAV III variants (infantry section carrier, command post, observation post and engineer vehicle) to the LAV 6 configuration was modified. The modification added $151 million to upgrade an additional 66 LAV III's to the LAV 6 with a LAV Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (LRSS) fitted.[17]

In February 2017, GDLS – Canada was awarded a $404 million order to work on 141 LAV Operational Requirement Integration Task (LORIT) vehicles. This contract will upgrade the remaining LAV III fleet in the Canadian Army to the LAV 6 configuration. This brings the Canadian Army's LAV III Upgrade (LAVUP) program to a total cost of $1.8 billion.[18]

Final completion and delivery of the Canadian Army's LAV III Upgrade (LAVUP) to upgrade the LAV III to the LAV 6 was expected to be completed by December 2019.[19]

Exports

In early 2014 the Conservative government under Stephen Harper prepared the sale of several hundred LAV 6 vehicles to Saudi Arabia for an estimated CAD $10 billion. This was one of the largest manufacturing export deals in modern Canadian history, though it was heavily criticized due to Saudi Arabia's record on human rights abuses and involving in the Yemeni Civil War.[20] The deal, which grew to CAD $15 billion and included 928 LAV 6 vehicles, was ultimately signed in late 2014.[21] The Liberal government under Justin Trudeau finally approved the export license for the vehicles after coming to power in 2015, despite widespread calls from the NDP and human rights groups to cancel the deal. Even after footage appearing online of Canadian LAV vehicles being deployed against the Shiite population in Qatif, the House of Commons committee report found "no conclusive evidence that Canadian-made vehicles were used in human rights violations" according to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.[22] The government also cited costly penalties for breaking the contract as a reason to honor the export commitments.[23] In 2018, Saudi Arabia threatened to reduce its order for LAV 6 vehicles from 928 to only 742 vehicles, after a diplomatic row with the Trudeau government following criticism of the former's human rights abuses, although some analysts believed this threat had more to do with the kingdom's economic difficulties.[24]

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Canadian Government announced that it would be diverting 39 LAV 6 ACSVs to the Ukrainian Armed Forces as military aid from the order of 360 vehicles it had previously made for the Canadian Forces.[25] Canadian officials stated that the vehicles along with spare parts would be delivered during the summer of 2022 and that the Forces would still receive a total order of 360 vehicles in addition to the 39 vehicles given to Ukraine.[26] [27]

Active Combat

In early January 2023 the first ACSVs were spotted near the frontlines in Ukraine, after having begun to arrive since early October 2022, with the vehicles previously having been in rear-area units for training on the vehicles. Ukrainian Media reporting on the vehicles also dubbed the vehicles with a new nickname, the “Super Bison” due to the lineage the ACSV series shares with the older LAV 2 Bison series which filled an almost identical role.[28] As of April 2024, only 1 Super Bison has been confirmed by open source intelligence as destroyed in combat.[29]

Variants

LAV 6 series:

LAV 6 ACSV (Armoured Combat Support Vehicle) series (originally known as LAV 6 CSV):[31]

ACSV

In August 2019, the Government of Canada announced its intention to purchase up to 360 Armoured Combat Support Vehicles (ACSVs), and that negotiations with GDLS - Canada had entered the final stages. Based heavily on the LAV 6 platform, the ACSVs will replace the Bison LAV and the M113 armoured personnel carrier (M113A3 & MTVL) fleets of the Canadian Armed Forces.[33]

In September 2019, Public Services and Procurement Canada on behalf of the Department of National Defence awarded GDLS - Canada a CAD$2 billion contract for 360 ACSVs, initial spare parts, manuals, training, and various vehicle add-on kits. The various add-on kits incorporated in the procurement include: add-on armour, mine blast and enhanced crew protection, laser warning systems, side protection and remote weapons station kits. The Department of National Defence stated that by procuring similar combat support vehicles in the CAF fleet offers the advantages of reduced training and sustainment costs, in addition to the availability of standard spare parts to fix vehicles quickly during critical operations.[34]

The vehicles are expected to support a wide range of operations, including domestic disaster relief and overseas peacekeeping missions. The ACSV will be available in eight variants to provide services such as: ambulances, vehicle recovery, engineering, mobile repair, electronic warfare, troop-carrying, and mobile command posts.[34] Delivery of the first set of vehicles is expected in late 2020, with the last vehicles being delivered in 2025.[33]

In May 2020, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace announced that they had signed a contract worth NOK500 Million (CAD$73.6 Million) with GDLS - Canada for delivery of the newest generation of Protector Remote Weapons Stations (or RWS) to the Canadian Army. The Protector RWS is to be equipped on Canada's fleet of ACSVs.[35] It was subsequently announced on June 1, 2020, that delivery of the first ACSVs was still on schedule for late 2020 and would not be delayed in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.[36]

Operators

Current operators

(Canadian Army) – 976[26] [27] [28]
(Saudi Arabian National Guard) - 928[44] [45]
(Armed Forces of Ukraine) – 39 (+ 50 on order)

Potential clients

Competitors (as of 2024)[47]

Failed bids

Australia (211 vehicles)
  • The LAV 6.0 participated to the project LAND 400 Phase 2 for the production of the successor of the ASLAV named "CRV". In July 2016, the Boxer and the Patria AMV-35 were pre-selected for a final competition. Among the other competitors were the VBCI and the Sentinel II (based on the Terrex 2).[48]
    (Approximately 810 vehicles)
  • The LAV 6.0 participated to the project Next Wheeled Armored Vehicle under the Japanese Ministry of Defense aiming at replacing the Type 96 APC. It was in competition against the Patria AMVXP and a new 8×8 designed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. [49] In December 2022, the Japanese Ministry of Defense awarded a contract for the AMV through Patria Japan.[50]

    Notes and References

    1. Book: Janes Land Warfare Platforms: Armoured Fighting Vehicles - Wheeled 2022-2022 . 2022 . Jane's Information Group . 182–190 . 9780710634016.
    2. Book: Janes Land Warfare Platforms: Armoured Fighting Vehicles - Wheeled 2020-2021 . 2020 . Jane's Information Group . 180–186 . 9780710633453.
    3. Web site: Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) 6.0 . canada.ca . usurped . 2022-09-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20220924222349/https://www.canada.ca/en/army/services/equipment/vehicles/light-armoured-vehicle-upgrade.html.
    4. News: LAV-III out of service. CTV. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20090710091526/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/print/CTVNews/20090310/afghanistan_break_090310/20090310/?hub=SEAfghanistan&subhub=PrintStory. July 10, 2009. mdy-all.
    5. News: Military wants $5B for army's fleet . Ottawa Citizen . David . Pugliese . June 2, 2009.
    6. News: Canadian military lost 34 vehicles in Afghanistan, 359 damaged. Canada.ca. July 20, 2012. July 20, 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120720203223/http://o.canada.com/2012/07/19/78433/. July 20, 2012. mdy-all.
    7. News: Military to get $5B for armoured vehicles. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. July 7, 2009. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20090708191354/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/07/07/nb-military-funding-432.html. July 8, 2009. mdy-all.
    8. Close Combat Vehicle. July 8, 2009. November 11, 2009. Department of National Defence. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090916213738/http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/view-news-afficher-nouvelles-eng.asp?id=3036. September 16, 2009. mdy-all.
    9. Web site: Canada Looks to Upgrade Its Armor. July 9, 2009. November 11, 2009. Defense Industry Daily. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20090712122949/http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Canada-Looks-to-Upgrade-Its-Armor-in-Afghanistan-05190/. July 12, 2009. mdy-all.
    10. News: Plans for new fleet of armoured combat vehicles back on track . David Pugliese . January 21, 2010 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110711101811/http://news.globaltv.com/story.html?id=2682413 . July 11, 2011 . mdy-all .
    11. Web site: December 23, 2013 . Canada cancels $2.1B armored vehicle purchase . dead . https://archive.today/20131223155555/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20131223/DEFREG02/312230002 . December 23, 2013 . December 23, 2013 . defensenews.com . AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE.
    12. News: Un milliard $ pour moderniser la flotte de véhicules blindés des Forces canadiennes. October 21, 2011. Radio-Canada. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20111023035702/http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/alberta/2011/10/21/002-contrat-edmonton-modernisation-vehicules-forces-canadienne.shtml. October 23, 2011. mdy-all.
    13. News: 1 milliard $ pour moderniser des véhicules blindés. https://archive.today/20120710150003/http://fr.canoe.ca/infos/quebeccanada/politiquefederale/archives/2011/10/20111021-143706.html. usurped. July 10, 2012. October 21, 2011. Agence QMI. October 22, 2011.
    14. News: Ottawa investit un milliard pour les blindés légers canadiens . October 21, 2011 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224112211/http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/canada/334284/ottawa-investit-un-milliard-pour-les-blindes-legers-canadiens . December 24, 2013 . mdy-all .
    15. News: LAV-3 Upgrade Still a Priority for Canada. https://archive.today/20120729182105/http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=7120066. dead. July 29, 2012. October 21, 2011 . Defense News.
    16. News: Government Makes It Official: General Dynamics Land Systems Awarded LAV-3 Upgrade Contract. October 21, 2011. Ottawa Citizen. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111228135045/http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2011/10/21/government-makes-it-official-general-dynamics-land-systems-awarded-lav-3-upgrade-contract/. December 28, 2011. mdy-all.
    17. Web site: LAV 6.0: Protected, mobile and lethal . January 29, 2014 . vanguardcanada.com . Deanna R . April 22, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170424000505/http://www.vanguardcanada.com/2014/01/29/lav-6-0-protected-mobile-lethal/ . April 24, 2017 . mdy-all .
    18. Web site: Defence Minister Sajjan to make announcement on LAV-III Upgrade project. February 9, 2017. ottawacitizen.com. May 3, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170729004603/http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/defence-minister-sajjan-to-make-announcement-on-lav-iii-upgrade-project. July 29, 2017. mdy-all.
    19. Web site: Canada to modernise additional 141 LAV IIIs. janes.com. May 3, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170217040239/http://www.janes.com/article/67691/canada-to-modernise-additional-141-lav-iiis. February 17, 2017. mdy-all.
    20. Web site: Canada-Saudi arms deal has 'significant risk' . Al Jazeera . 14 April 2014.
    21. Web site: Harper defends military deal with Saudi Arabia . The Globe and Mail . 25 September 2015.
    22. Web site: Trudeau defends Saudi arms export deal, points finger at Harper government . CBC News . 20 September 2018.
    23. Web site: 'Difficult contract' binds Canada to Saudi LAV deal, Trudeau says . CBC News . 23 October 2018.
    24. Web site: Canada's arms deal with Saudi Arabia is shrinking . CBC News . 10 September 2018.
    25. Web site: Trudeau promises to arm Ukraine with modern military equipment . CBC News . 30 June 2022.
    26. Web site: As NATO summit ends, Canada promises more military aid to Ukraine . globalnews.ca . 2022-06-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20220630230815/https://globalnews.ca/news/8958186/canada-military-aid-ukraine/. 2022-06-30. live.
    27. Web site: Trudeau promises to arm Ukraine with modern military equipment . www.cbc.ca . 2022-06-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20220630203815/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/nato-arms-canada-1.6506611. 2022-06-30. live.
    28. Web site: Fleets of made-in-Canada armoured vehicles start reaching Ukrainian battlefields . nationalpost.com . 2023-01-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20230123195834/https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/made-in-canada-armoured-vehicles-ukraine. 2023-01-23. live.
    29. Web site: Attack On Europe: Documenting Ukrainian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine . Oryx . 2024-04-19.
    30. Web site: Light armoured vehicle III upgrade (LAVUP) . canada.ca . usurped . 2022-06-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20220614123528/https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/procurement/light-armoured-vehicle-iii-upgrade.html.
    31. Web site: LAV 6.0 Brochure . gdlscanada.com . usurped . 2022-09-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20220924233313/https://www.gdlscanada.com/products/LAV/LAV-6.0.html.
    32. Web site: Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV) . canada.ca . usurped . 2022-08-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20220817195750/https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/procurement/armoured-combat-support-vehicle.html.
    33. Web site: Armoured Combat Support Vehicles. tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca. August 1, 2020. November 13, 2019.
    34. Web site: Canada to purchase 360 combat support light armoured vehicles . Armytechnology.com . 2019-08-19 . 2020-08-02 .
    35. Web site: KONGSBERG AWARDED CONTRACT TO PROVIDE REMOTE WEAPON STATIONS TO THE CANADIAN ARMY WORTH 500 MNOK . Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace . Kongsberg.com/kda. 2020-05-25 . 2020-08-01.
    36. Web site: Canadian DND confirms initial delivery of the ACSV for this year . Pereira . Flavia Carmargos . Shepardmedia.com . Shephard Media . 2020-06-01 . 2020-08-02 .
    37. Web site: LAV 6.0 Armored Personnel Carrier MilitaryToday.com . 2023-09-09 . www.militarytoday.com.
    38. https://rcemecorpsgemrc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/LEMSJournal_Issue5_EN-Accessible.pdf
    39. https://www.cfc.forces.gc.ca/259/290/23/192/Rock.pdf
    40. Web site: Government of Canada . National Defence . 2018-05-30 . LAV Specialist Variant Enhancements (LAV SVE) - Defence Capabilities Blueprint . 2023-09-09 . dgpaapp.forces.gc.ca.
    41. Web site: Government of Canada . National Defence . 2018-05-30 . LAV Recce Surveillance System - Defence Capabilities Blueprint . 2023-09-09 . dgpaapp.forces.gc.ca.
    42. Web site: Defence . National . 2021-08-04 . Armoured Combat Support Vehicle . 2023-09-09 . www.canada.ca.
    43. Web site: The Agile Eight: Leveraging the LAV 6.0 for armoured combat support Canadian Army Today . 2023-09-09 . en-US.
    44. Web site: CBC News . 2018-03-19 . Canada's arms deal with Saudi Arabia includes 'heavy assault' vehicles . 2024-04-19.
    45. Web site: Armoured vehicles in Saudi deal will pack lethal punch. April 14, 2016. The Globe & Mail . live . May 10, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170510111147/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/armoured-vehicles-in-saudi-deal-will-pack-lethal-punch/article28046099/.
    46. News: Brewster . Murray . 26 April 2024 . First ten armoured vehicles promised to Ukraine to be delivered by summer, Blair says . live.
    47. Web site: 2024-05-01 . Qatar's 8x8 Ambitions Bring Fighting Vehicle Companies to Maritime Show . www.nationaldefensemagazine.org.
    48. Web site: Eshel . Tamir . 2016-07-28 . Australia Shortlists Boxer, AMV-35 for Future Combat Recce Vehicle - Defense Update . 2024-07-03 . en-US.
    49. Web site: Ng . Jr . 2023-09-11 . Patria taps on Japan Steel Works for 8x8 vehicle production in Japan . 2024-03-29 . Asian Military Review . en-US.
    50. Web site: Japan selects Patria's AMV for Type 96 replacement programme . 9 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221210053150/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/japan-selects-patrias-amv-for-type-96-replacement-programme . 2022-12-10.