General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) Canada has been awarded a contract by the US Army TACOM life-cycle management command for the US Marine Corps’ (USMC) light-armoured vehicle (LAV) mobility and obsolescence (MOB) upgrade and integration programme.
Under the $52.3m modification agreement, signed through the Canadian Commercial Corporation, the company will develop a fully integrated replacement power pack, suspension, driveline, steering system and improved electrical components.
GDLS will also provide engineering and logistics data, in addition to offering test support and delivery of prototypes.
Last year, GDLS received a USMC contract to deliver three LAV-A2 vehicles for service, with the first vehicle scheduled for June 2014 and the last in October 2014.
Used as part of the marine air-ground task force missions, the eight-wheeled mobile, survivable and lethal vehicle system incorporates a robust suspension for mobility and can carry out a wide range of operations including security, reconnaissance, attack and defence.
Capable of operating on both land and water, the LAV-A2 features improved armour protection and an automatic fire-suppression system for crew protection.
Raytheon’s Improved Thermal Sight System (ITSS), which is equipped in the LAV-A2, provides thermal images to the gunner and commander, including an eye-safe laser range finder and far-target location target grid information.
Since 2007, USMC has placed orders for more than 250 LAV-A2 vehicles and currently deploys around 800 units of an earlier variant based on the Mowag Piranha LAV vehicle.
Image: USMC’s light-armoured vehicle. Photo: courtesy of Alvaro Aro, US Marine Corps.
