MIM-72A/M48 Chaparral is a US Army self-propelled surface-to-air missile system based on the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile system. The launcher is based on the M113 family of vehicles. It entered service with the US Army in 1969 and was phased out between 1990 and 1998. It was intended to be used along with the M163 Vulcan Air Defense System, the Vulcan covering short-range short-time engagements, and the Chaparral for longer range use.
Showing posts with label Vehicles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vehicles. Show all posts
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Iveco LMV
IVECO LMV (Light Multirole Vehicle) is a 4WD tactical vehicle developed by IVECO, and in service with several countries.After its adoption by the Italian Army under the name VTLM Lince, it won the “FCLV” (Future Command and Liaison Vehicle) competition of the British Army as the Panther and has been adopted by Belgium, Croatia, Norwegian Army and the Spanish Army. The Italian Army took vehicles to both Afghanistan and Lebanon. In Afghanistan the Lince vehicles have proved decisive in saving passenger's lives in at least two attacks with IED.
Design
The LMV uses modular armor packs to adjust its level of protection to its mission requirements. As regards mine protection the vehicle height on the ground has been increased to 493 mm without augmenting the overall height (less than 2 metre); it uses also suspended seats of aereonautical derivation, v-hull under body, and a collapsible sandwich structure in the floor to deflect and absorb mine blasts. Its exhaust is piped through its C-Pillars, and its turbocharger is located underneath the engine to reduce its thermal signature. Mobility is helped by a run-flat system, allowing the vehicle to move even with completely deflated tyres.
Land Rover Wolf
The Land Rover Wolf is a military utility vehicle in service with UK Armed Forces and the Dutch Marine Corps. The vehicle is famous for being the primary utility vehicle of the British Army.The term Wolf was a project name used by Land Rover to cover the British Army's recent range of vehicles. The name is not officially used by the MoD but adopted by soldiers as a generic term (standing for Wheel On Left Face, to describe the new position of the spare wheel). The project designations were MoD: Higher Specification (HS) or Land Rover Ltd: eXtra Duty (XD) and there are 23 variants. The term "Wolf" should not be confused with the militarised Mercedes Geländewagen based "Wolf" marketed by Rheinmetall Defence.
International MXT-MV
The MXT-MV (Military Extreme Truck - Military Version) was introduced in 2006. Part of International Truck's Military Vehicles line, it is an International MXT extensively modified for military duty, transportable by C-130.
Features
12V/24V/110V Diamond Logic electrical system/vehicle monitoring
40° approach angle
25° departure angle
30" fording capability
1-10 passengers depending on configuration
GAZ-3937
GAZ-3937 "Vodnik" (and its modified version GAZ-39371) is a Russian high-mobility multipurpose amphibious vehicle manufactured by GAZ. It is a modification of civil GAZ-2330 "Tigr" and has a water-displacing hermetic hull which provides improved fording performance. It has a 4x4-type chassis with independent suspension and a centralized system of tire-pressure control. The ground clearance is 475 mm. The standard undercarriage with a cab can be fitted with a number of different modules with various number of passenger seats and cargo compartments, seating up to 10 people. It is powered by a 175 hp (130 kW) diesel engine giving a top speed of 112 km/h (4 to 5 km/h when swimming).
Its name comes from the Russian Vodník, in Slavic mythology a male water spirit, and a possible translation into English could be Aquarius or Merman. (In modern Russian use, though, vodnik simply means a person employed in water transport (i.e. a boatman), or in land amelioration (drainage, irrigation, leaching of saline soils, landslide and flood control)).
Its name comes from the Russian Vodník, in Slavic mythology a male water spirit, and a possible translation into English could be Aquarius or Merman. (In modern Russian use, though, vodnik simply means a person employed in water transport (i.e. a boatman), or in land amelioration (drainage, irrigation, leaching of saline soils, landslide and flood control)).
Saturday, February 7, 2009
TPz Fuchs

TPz (Transportpanzer) Fuchs (fox) is an armoured personnel carrier developed by Daimler-Benz and built by Thyssen-Henschel (now Rheinmetall Landsysteme) in 1979. It was the second wheeled armoured vehicle to be fielded in the Bundeswehr. It is used for various different tasks including troop-transport, engineer-transport, bomb disposal, NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) reconnaissance and electronic warfare. By mixing and matching the different models and retrofit kits, today more than 90 different combinations are possible, 32 of which have so far been produced. The TPz Fuchs is thus also referred to as a "retrofit platform".The vehicles engine is a Mercedes-Benz Model OM 402A V-8 liquid-cooled diesel with an output of 320 hp. It has a max speed of 105 km/h and a range of 800 km. Fuchs is 7.33 m long, 2.98 m wide and 2.37 m high. It weighs 18.3 tons with the capability to carry an additional 6 tons in equipment. The 6x6 APC is characterized by high performance over all terrains and low noise. Its rear-mounted propellers and 360° turning range, enable the vehicle to take water obstacles in its stride at up to 10km/h.
Mungo ESK

The Mungo ESK (Einsatzfahrzeug Spezialisierte Kräfte) is an air-transportable, armoured multirole transport vehicle of the German Army for its Airmobile Operations Division and Division Special Operations. It is based on the Multicar M30/FUMO and is produced by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall. Deliveries of 396 Mungos for the German Army began in 2005.The German Army plans to procure another 441 Mungo ESKs by 2011. In 2007 all Mungos deployed to the ISAF mission were withdrawn, because the Mungo proved incapable of sustaining the harsh terrain and road conditions of Afghanistan. However, in 2008 the problems were fixed and Mungos were redeployed in Afghanistan.
MOWAG Eagle

The MOWAG Eagle is a wheeled armored vehicle designed by the Swiss MOWAG corporation. It has gone through several generations of development. The current vehicle, introduced in November 2003, is the Eagle IV, which is based on the Duro IIIP chassis. The original MOWAG Eagle used the chassis and running gear of the American HMMWV, while the Eagle II and Eagle III use the chassis and running gear of the HMMWV ECV.
Eagle I, II, III
Swiss Army - A total of 329 Eagle I and II are in use as light armored reconnaissance vehicles (Aufklärungsfahrzeug), armed with a 7.5mm Pz Mg 51/71 machine gun and fitted with thermal imaging and radio equipment. They are known respectively as Aufklärungsfahrzeug 93 and Aufklärungsfahrzeug 97.
Mowag Eagle III artillery observer
120 Eagle III have been acquired as mobile artillery observer vehicles in 2003, with substantial improvements made to communications and surveillance equipment (yet lacking the machine gun of previous versions). The Swiss army designator for this version is Artillerie Schiesskommandant Fahrzeug 2000.
Eagle I, II, III
Swiss Army - A total of 329 Eagle I and II are in use as light armored reconnaissance vehicles (Aufklärungsfahrzeug), armed with a 7.5mm Pz Mg 51/71 machine gun and fitted with thermal imaging and radio equipment. They are known respectively as Aufklärungsfahrzeug 93 and Aufklärungsfahrzeug 97.
Mowag Eagle III artillery observer
120 Eagle III have been acquired as mobile artillery observer vehicles in 2003, with substantial improvements made to communications and surveillance equipment (yet lacking the machine gun of previous versions). The Swiss army designator for this version is Artillerie Schiesskommandant Fahrzeug 2000.
Danish Army - 36 Eagle I, known as Spejdervogn M/95. Nowadays, the M/95 is used without the original MKB-2 turret.
M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System

The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (M270 MLRS) is a multiple rocket launcher, a type of rocket artillery.
The first rocket systems were delivered to the U.S. Army in 1983. The system is in widespread use in NATO countries and it has also been manufactured in Europe. Some 1,300 M270 systems have been manufactured, along with more than 700,000 rockets. The system has been used in the Gulf wars, where it proved itself as a practical and effective weapons system. The production of the M270 ended in 2003, when a last batch was delivered to the Egyptian army.
The first rocket systems were delivered to the U.S. Army in 1983. The system is in widespread use in NATO countries and it has also been manufactured in Europe. Some 1,300 M270 systems have been manufactured, along with more than 700,000 rockets. The system has been used in the Gulf wars, where it proved itself as a practical and effective weapons system. The production of the M270 ended in 2003, when a last batch was delivered to the Egyptian army.
Overview
The system is capable of firing guided and unguided projectiles to a distance of up to 42 km (26.1 miles). Firing ballistic missiles, (such as the U.S. Army Tactical Missile System—ATACMS) it is capable of reaching out to 300 km (186 miles) with the warhead reaching a maximal altitude of ~50 km (164,000 ft). The M270 is a very mobile unit, thus well suited for the so called shoot-and-scoot tactic: it can fire its rockets very rapidly and immediately move away to avoid the counter-battery fire.
MLRS was developed jointly by the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, and France. It was developed from the older General Support Rocket System (GSRS).
The rockets and ATACMS missiles are contained in interchangeable pods. Each pod contains six standard rockets or one guided ATACMS missile (the two types cannot be mixed). The launcher can hold two pods at a time, which it loads using an integrated crane. All twelve rockets or two ATACMS missiles can be fired in under a minute. One launcher firing twelve rockets can completely blanket one square kilometer with submunitions. For this reason, the MLRS is sometimes referred to as the "Grid Square Removal Service" (metric maps are usually divided up into 1km grids). The U.S. Army is currently working on developing and fielding unitary (one large warhead instead of submunitions) rocket and ATACMS variants, as well as a guided rocket.
MLRS has recently been upgraded with guided rounds. Phase I testing of a guided unitary round (XM31) was completed on an accelerated schedule in March 2006. Due to an Urgent Need Statement the guided unitary round has already been fielded and used in action in Iraq. Lockheed Martin also received a contract to convert existing M30 DPICM GMLRS rockets to the XM31 unitary variant.
MLRS was developed jointly by the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, and France. It was developed from the older General Support Rocket System (GSRS).
The rockets and ATACMS missiles are contained in interchangeable pods. Each pod contains six standard rockets or one guided ATACMS missile (the two types cannot be mixed). The launcher can hold two pods at a time, which it loads using an integrated crane. All twelve rockets or two ATACMS missiles can be fired in under a minute. One launcher firing twelve rockets can completely blanket one square kilometer with submunitions. For this reason, the MLRS is sometimes referred to as the "Grid Square Removal Service" (metric maps are usually divided up into 1km grids). The U.S. Army is currently working on developing and fielding unitary (one large warhead instead of submunitions) rocket and ATACMS variants, as well as a guided rocket.
MLRS has recently been upgraded with guided rounds. Phase I testing of a guided unitary round (XM31) was completed on an accelerated schedule in March 2006. Due to an Urgent Need Statement the guided unitary round has already been fielded and used in action in Iraq. Lockheed Martin also received a contract to convert existing M30 DPICM GMLRS rockets to the XM31 unitary variant.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Fennek

The Fennek, named after the fennec (a small species of desert fox), or LGS Fennek, with LGS being short for Leichter Gepanzerter Spähwagen in German (Light Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle), is a four wheeled armed reconnaissance vehicle produced by the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Dutch Defence Vehicle Systems. It was developed for both the German Army and Royal Netherlands Army to replace their current vehicles.
History
History
In April 2000, the prototype vehicle finished field trials and in December 2001 a combined order was placed. 410 were ordered by the Royal Netherlands Army (202 reconnaissance, 130 MRAT (medium range antitank) and 78 general purpose versions) and 212 by the German military (178 reconnaissance, 24 combat engineer, 10 joint fire support teams (JFST)). More Fenneks for the German Army will be procured from 2015 on. Germany plans an overall purchase of approximately 300 Fenneks. The first vehicle was delivered to the Netherlands in July 2003 and the first to Germany in December of the same year. Deliveries will continue to take place until 2008.
The Dutch SP Aerospace company, which produced the Fennek for the Dutch military, was declared bankrupt in August 2004. A new company called Dutch Defence Vehicle Systems (DDVS) was created to continue the production of the vehicles for the Royal Netherlands Army.
The Fennek has four wheels with selectable two or four wheel drive. It has a Deutz diesel engine producing 179 kW, giving it a top speed of 115 km/h. Tire pressure can be regulated by the driver from inside the vehicle to suit terrain conditions.
Various weapons can be fitted, such as a 12.7 mm machine gun for the Dutch reconnaissance version, a Rafael Spike anti-tank missile on the Dutch MRAT version or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher (HK GMG) or Rheinmetall MG3 for the German vehicles. The Royal Netherlands Army also placed an order at the Turkish company Aselsan for 18 Raytheon Stinger surface-to-air missile launchers to be fitted on the Fennek.
The vehicle is protected all-round against 7.62 mm rounds and additional armour can be added if the mission requires. The air conditioning system provides protection against nuclear, biological and chemical warfare and the crew compartment is protected against anti-personnel mines.
DKW Munga

The DKW Munga was a DKW-branded off-road vehicle built by Auto Union in Ingolstadt, Germany. "MUNGA" is an acronym of the German phrase "Mehrzweck UNiversal Geländewagen mit Allradantrieb", which translated means, "Multi purpose Universal Cross-country Car with All-wheel drive".
Production began in October 1956 and ended in December 1968. During this time 46,750 cars were built. Launched at the 38th International Motor Show at Frankfurt in the autumn of 1957, the vehicle was not only adopted by the West German Bundeswehr as a vehicle unique in its class but was also bought in large numbers for the German Border Police and various foreign military formations within NATO.
The civilian version, that could be bought by civilians for DM 9.500, roughly US-$ 2.300 at the time) was widely adopted in Western Germany for agricultural and forestry work in particular, and also became popular abroad, especially in those countries where "go anywhere" transport was needed because of poor roads, as, for example, in large parts of South America and South Africa.
Around 2000 cars were delivered to the Dutch army, many of which were shipped to the UK in the late 1970s.
Boxer (armoured fighting vehicle)
The Boxer is a German-Dutch multirole armoured fighting vehicle designed to accomplish a number of operations through the use of installable mission modules. It is produced by the ARTEC GmbH (ARmoured vehicle TEChnology) industrial group, and the programme is being managed by OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation). ARTEC GmbH is seated in Munich, its parent companies are Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall on the German side, and Stork PWV (now also a subsidiary of Rheinmetall) for the Netherlands. Other names are GTK (Gepanzertes Transport Kraftfahrzeug; armoured transport vehicle) Boxer and "MRAV" for Multirole Armoured Vehicle (obsolete).Design
The Boxer is an eight-wheeled MRAV, easily dwarfing most contemporary vehicles with its size. At 33 ton combat weight, it is also about 10 tons heavier than many other contemporary vehicles within the same role. It is designed to carry out a variety of utility missions with maximum flexibility; this is achieved via several different "mission modules" specialized for various tasks which are available separately from the vehicle. The base vehicle is independent of the modules, and modules can be interchanged within an hour. Each module incorporates a primary safety cell with a triple floor.
Known mission modules
Headquarters
Medical
Logistics
Armored personnel carrier
ambulance
Battle damage repair
120mm mortar
Medical
Logistics
Armored personnel carrier
ambulance
Battle damage repair
120mm mortar
The Boxer is built with a high degree of standardization, and designed to be maintained easily and efficiently. It is capable of being air transported in the future A400M tactical airlifter.
Protection
The basic vehicle shell is composed of hard steel, and "modular armor" is sandwiched between it and the vehicle cell. The three elements are held together by fastening bolts. The modular armor, currently, is a specialized ceramic mix, but future versions of the armor can be easily fitted to the vehicle by slab replacement. The hull protects against top attack bomblets and AP mines, including "hanging" seats to improve crew protection from explosions below the vehicle. The vehicle is outfitted with advanced thermal, radar, and acoustic stealth technology.
ATF Dingo

The ATF Dingo is a German heavily armored military truck based on a Unimog chassis with a V-hull design, produced by the company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. It is designed to withstand land mines, rifle fire, artillery fragments and NBC-threats. ATF stands for Allschutz-Transport-Fahrzeug, meaning all-protected transport vehicle in German. It is named after the wild dog dingo.
The ATF Dingo has a modular design of the following five elements: chassis, protection cell, storage space, engine compartment, and its bottom mine blast deflector. Its design is lighter and includes an armored chassis with a blast pan instead of the more common monocoque hull found in modern blast resistant vehicles. KMW's layered Modular Expandable Armor System (MEXAS) is used and the windows are angled to deflect blasts and bullets. A tarp is used over the back storage area instead of metal to save weight. A mechanical weapons station utilizing periscopes, borrowed from KMW's Fennek, is located on the top of the vehicle. The weapons station allows the operator to sit safely inside the cabin.
The ATF Dingo 2 is an advanced version of the Dingo based on the upgraded Unimog U 5000 chassis, that offers improved protection and more payload. It is offered in two versions with 3,250 (3.5 tonnes payload) and 3,850 mm (4 tonnes payload) wheelbase. The Dingo 2 can seat 8 personnel.
Currently KMW is developing the Dingo 2 GFF for the German Army with increased internal volume.
The Dingo's standard armament is a remote controlled Rheinmetall MG3 machine gun turret. The 7.62 mm MG can be replaced with a 12.7 mm MG or a HK GMG automatic grenade launcher.
Textron signed an exclusive deal to produce and market KMW's Dingo in the United States. However, Textron chose its own more expensive and heavier M1117 Armored Security Vehicle for the MRAP competition, which did not receive a contract
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
RG-31 Nyala

The RG-31 Nyala is a multi-purpose mine-protected vehicle made by BAE Systems Land Systems OMC in South Africa, based on the TFM Industries' Mamba APC. The vehicle’s V-shaped monocoque welded steel hull and high suspension are designed to resist a blast equivalent to two TM-57 anti-tank mines detonating simultaneously. The RG-31 is classified by the Department of Defense as a level 1 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle. The RG-31 has become the multi-purpose vehicle of choice of the UN and other peacekeeping and security forces. It is finding favour with non-governmental organisations requiring a vehicle with a non-aggressive appearance to protect their personnel against the threat of land mines.
Production history
Variants came in either a Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) or utility vehicle (Cargo) configurations RG-31 Mk3A Nyala - based on Mamba APC RG-31 Sabre - cargo version RG-31 Mk5 Nyala RG-31 Charger - US Army version of the Mk3 with a Detroit Diesel engine and Mk5 with a Cummins engine RG-31 Mk5E - A extended Mk5 variant similar to the RG-33L, but a 4x4 Operators
Canada/Canadian Forces – 75 RG-31 Mk3 with Protector M151 Remote Weapon Station Spain – 100 RG-31 Mk5E Nyala with Samson remote Weapon Station are expected (+ option for 80 more) Colombia – 4 RG-31 Nyala Netherlands – 5 (on loan from the Canadian Forces) Rwanda – 6 RG-31 Nyala South Africa United Nations – 30 RG-31 Nyala United Arab Emirates – 76 customized RG-31 Mk5 United States US SOCOM – 50 Mk5A1S US Army RG-31 Nyala damaged by a mine RG-31 blown in half by a mine. 148 RG-31 Mk3 Charger, 257 Mk5A1 111 Mk5E USMC 12 Mk5A's (MRAP Cat I) 1385 Mk5E's (MRAP Cat II) Blackwater Security Combat history
Afghanistan - Canada, (including 5 leased to Netherlands) (ISAF) Bosnia and Herzegovina - UNPROFOR Ethiopia / Eritrea - Canada Georgia - UN Iraq - United States Colombian Armed Conflict Ivorian Civil War Ivory Coast - UNOCI Kosovo - KFOR Lebanon - UNIFIL
Production history
Variants came in either a Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) or utility vehicle (Cargo) configurations RG-31 Mk3A Nyala - based on Mamba APC RG-31 Sabre - cargo version RG-31 Mk5 Nyala RG-31 Charger - US Army version of the Mk3 with a Detroit Diesel engine and Mk5 with a Cummins engine RG-31 Mk5E - A extended Mk5 variant similar to the RG-33L, but a 4x4 Operators
Canada/Canadian Forces – 75 RG-31 Mk3 with Protector M151 Remote Weapon Station Spain – 100 RG-31 Mk5E Nyala with Samson remote Weapon Station are expected (+ option for 80 more) Colombia – 4 RG-31 Nyala Netherlands – 5 (on loan from the Canadian Forces) Rwanda – 6 RG-31 Nyala South Africa United Nations – 30 RG-31 Nyala United Arab Emirates – 76 customized RG-31 Mk5 United States US SOCOM – 50 Mk5A1S US Army RG-31 Nyala damaged by a mine RG-31 blown in half by a mine. 148 RG-31 Mk3 Charger, 257 Mk5A1 111 Mk5E USMC 12 Mk5A's (MRAP Cat I) 1385 Mk5E's (MRAP Cat II) Blackwater Security Combat history
Afghanistan - Canada, (including 5 leased to Netherlands) (ISAF) Bosnia and Herzegovina - UNPROFOR Ethiopia / Eritrea - Canada Georgia - UN Iraq - United States Colombian Armed Conflict Ivorian Civil War Ivory Coast - UNOCI Kosovo - KFOR Lebanon - UNIFIL
M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicle

General
The Infantry Carrier Vehicle provides protected transport and supporting fire for the infantry squad during dismounted assault. The Stryker is a full time four-wheel drive, selectively eight-wheel drive, armoured vehicle weighing approximately 19t which carries an infantry squad with their equipment. The vehicle can attain speeds of 70mph on paved roads.
The basic infantry carrier vehicle (ICV) provides armored protection for the two-man crew and a squad of nine soldiers.
Digital communications system
Kongsberg Remote Weapon Station
The ICV has a Kongsberg Remote Weapon Station with a universal soft mount cradle, which can mount either a 0.50 caliber 12.7mm M2 machine gun, MK19 40mm grenade launcher or M240 7.62mm machine gun. It is also armed with four M6 smoke grenade launchers.
Rhino Runner

Rhino Runner is a type of armoured bus used extensively in Iraq, especially on the infamous Route Irish between Baghdad International Airport and The Green Zone. It is a customized vehicle created by Labock Technologies, with configurations for various purposes. Duties include normal transport of civilian contractors and military personnel, and usage by VIPs, including transport of prisoners involved in the Iraqi Special Tribunal
Known specifications
Custom built from chassis up.
Side and back doors, emergency exit hatch on roof.
Dual A/C system.
360-degree protection includes floor, exhaust system protected by armored grillwork, and glass.
12[3] discrete gun ports.
6 cylinder turbo diesel 5.88 liters 240HP.
NIJ Level IV materials (composite armor and bullet-resistant glass) tested against .30 caliber AP (U.S. APM2) 166 grain 2850 feet per second.
Specifics written by gizmag
Instead of adapting armouring for an existing vehicle, Labock uses the most appropriate chassis and motors, and custom builds vehicles with protection against AP (armour piercing) bullets and significant bomb blast protection.
The Rhino Runner is fully protected (sides, front, back, roof, floor, and even glass) against up to Type IV (NIJ standard) including NATO calibres.
Special composite bulletproof armour, which is so light that it floats in water, and one-way bulletproof glass that prevents bullets from penetrating, but enables you to shoot through the glass from inside the vehicle.
Available in a range of seating capacities (17, 24 and 36 people) and configurations for purposes such as prisoner transport, ambulance, SWAT, command and control, and they can be made to order.
Apart from the 360-degree ballistic protection, the vehicles have a side and back door and an emergency exit on the roof and run flat tires for when changing a tire is not a viable option.
Because this is an armoured vehicle, certain specifications are not readily available due to trade secrets.
Usage
The Rhino Runner is mostly used for transportation of civilians and the press between the Baghdad International Airport and the Green Zone. It is also used to transport soldiers from one base to another.
VIPs have been known to use the Rhinos, including U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, General Richard Myers, and Matthew Roloff.
An unpublicised usage of the buses is to transport VIP prisoners, such as the now-deceased Saddam Hussein, between their confinements and the tribunal.
LAV-25 TANK

Overview
Marines drive their LAV-25 along the beach at Samesan Royal Thai Marine Base, Thailand, after offloading from a LCAC craft, during an amphibious assault exercise conducted during Exercise COBRA GOLD 2002.
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. 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, and require 3 weights of lubricants to remain in running condition. 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 six passengers (scouts) with combat gear. The vehicle has been through many changes through the late 90s. The new modification or SLEP has changed the LAV-25 to the LAV-25A1 standard and has been completely fielded. Funding has been approved for continued upgrades to the LAV family to bring them up to the LAV-25A2 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.[1] 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.
Variants
Marines drive their LAV-25 along the beach at Samesan Royal Thai Marine Base, Thailand, after offloading from a LCAC craft, during an amphibious assault exercise conducted during Exercise COBRA GOLD 2002.
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. 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, and require 3 weights of lubricants to remain in running condition. 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 six passengers (scouts) with combat gear. The vehicle has been through many changes through the late 90s. The new modification or SLEP has changed the LAV-25 to the LAV-25A1 standard and has been completely fielded. Funding has been approved for continued upgrades to the LAV family to bring them up to the LAV-25A2 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.[1] 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.
Variants

LAV-25
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-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.
LAV-25 of the USMC during live-fire exercise.
A United States Marine Corps LAV-25.
LAV-25 of the USMC during live-fire exercise.
A United States Marine Corps LAV-25.
LAV-AD (Air Defense)
LAV fitted with an electric turret mounting a 25 mm GAU-12 Equalizer gatling cannon, and two, four missile pods, which contain FIM-92 Stinger SAM (Surface-To-Air Missiles). It carries 990 rounds of 25 mm ammunition, and 16 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.
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)




