Canadian army has received the first of 66 upgraded LAV III 8x8 armoured vehicles 0102132

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Defence News - Canada

 
 
Friday, February 1, 2013, 03:57 PM
 
Canadian army has received the first of 66 upgraded LAV III 8x8 armoured vehicles.
Canada's military has received the first of 66 Light Armored Vehicles with reconnaissance and surveillance upgrades by General Dynamic Land Systems-Canada. The contract for modernization of the 66 LAV IIIs for reconnaissance and surveillance was issued last year and is worth about $150 million.
     
Canada's military has received the first of 66 Light Armored Vehicles with reconnaissance and surveillance upgrades by General Dynamic Land Systems-Canada. The contract for modernization of the 66 LAV IIIs for reconnaissance and surveillance was issued last year and is worth about $150 million.
The Department of National Defence receives the first modernized LAV III from General Dynamics Land Systems Canada in London, Ontario on January 24, 2013. (Credit photo Defence Canada)
     

A contract for the implementation phase of the Light Armored Vehicle III Upgrade Project, involving 550 infantry transport vehicles was given the company in 2011. That award was worth about $1 billion.

The LAV III, an armoured personnel carrier, is central to the Canadian Army’s ability to carry out its missions around the world and at home. The experiences of the Canadian Army and our allies over the past decade have highlighted the importance of a highly protected, highly mobile Light Armoured Vehicle. The use of mines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and anti-armour weapons have become more common, posing a significant risk to soldiers in the field.

The LAV III project introduces new technology to improve parts of the vehicle that experience heavy strain and to better prepare it for future threats. Protection, mobility and fire power will be improved in the 616 LAV IIIs, extending their lifespan into the 2030s.

The development of the LAV III is part of the project to acquire the next generation of land combat vehicles announced in July 2009.

The next milestone in the LAV III project will be the testing of the new vehicles.