General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada (GDLS-C) has been awarded a $37.2 million contract to upgrade the U.S. Marine Corps’ fleet of Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) into the 2030s. GDLS-C will perform the work, which includes the procurement of 60 hardware kits in support of the Light Armored Vehicle Reset Program. The enhancements are designed to extend the service life of the LAV into the 2030s before it finally retires. The fleet of Light Armored Vehicles will begin receiving a number of necessary upgrades under the terms of a contract awarded Jan. 4. General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada will perform the work, which includes the procurement of 60 hardware kits in support of the Light Armored Vehicle Reset Program.
Embedded in their original design, LAVs combine speed, maneuverability and firepower to perform a variety of functions, including security, command and control, reconnaissance and assault. The LAV-25 (Light Armored Vehicle) is an eight-wheeled amphibious armored reconnaissance vehicle used by the United States Marine Corps, United States Army, and the Canadian Army. It was built by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada, developed from the Canadian built AVGP versions of the Swiss MOWAG Piranha 6×6 family of armored fighting vehicles. The first LAVs were initially fielded in 1983.
The reset effort will focus on five key areas:
• modernized powerpack to improve reliability, cooling capacity and diagnostics with the added benefit of better fuel economy
• new drive train which will improve towing capability
• steering dampener to improve road feel and usability
• digitized drivers’ instrument panel
• LAV 25 slip rings—doubling power supply capability to the turret and modernized to handle additional channels for gigabit Ethernet, video and fiber optics.
“The Marine Corps is committed to ensuring this platform remains viable into the 2030s,” said Steve Myers, LAV program manager. The LAV A2 variants were an improved version of the original Marine LAV. The eight-wheeled amphibious armored vehicle which offered improved suspension and enhanced armor protection — came in armored personnel, anti-tank, command and control, logistic, and mortar variants. Active light armored reconnaissance battalions will be the first units to receive the upgraded vehicles, which will become (Light Armored Vehicle) LAV A3s. The hardware kits will be installed at Marine Corps Depots, with Initial Operational Capability targeted for the second quarter of fiscal 2021. The contract was awarded through the Army Contracting Command in Warren, Michigan.
