|
The Lakota is a 6x6 armoured vehicle based on the French Renault Trucks Defense VAB MK III but using some components and engine from United States. The vehicle is manufactured and marketed in United States by the Company Mack Defense. In June 2016, it was announced that the Lakota 6x6 armoured vehicle will be assembled by the American Company JWF Defense Systems. The Lakota is produced in five variants. Designed to meet the needs of a variety of missions, the vehicle's capabilities were tested in multiple locations throughout the US including California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Michigan. According Mack Defense, the Lakota 6x6 offers the protection of a mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicle, but has superior off-road mobility and increased multi-mission capabilities because if its unique design and lighter weight. It also delivers the capabilities of an 8x8, but at a fraction of the cost. In October 2016, Mack Defense has announced at AUSA the first foreign sale of the Lakota for a undisclosed customer in North Africa.
|
| Armament |
|
The Lakota 6x6 armoured vehicle can be fitted with a wide range of weapon station including ring mount system, one man turret or remotely operated weapon station. At AUSA 2016, the Lakota was fitted with a a small manual turret which can be armed with a 12.7mm machine gun. The vehicle can be equipped with a heavier turret such as the CMI Defence Cockerill CPWS 20-25, Nexter ARX-20 or BAE Systems TRT-25/30 tactical remote turret which can be armed with an automatic cannon up to 30mm caliber.
|
| Design and protection |
|
The layout of the Lakota is similar to the Renault Trucks Defense VAB Mark III with driver sits at the front of the vehicle on the left with the commander to his right. The engine compartment is immediately behind the driver position. Both crew members have a side door that opens to the front with one small bullet proof window on the upper part. The front of the vehicle is fitted with a large windshield offering the driver and the commander and excellent field view. The Lakota can carried 12 military personnel including driver and commander. The troops compartment at the rear of the hull offers a large internal volume more comfortable than the previous versions of VAB in service with the French army and other countries from all over the world. The troops being are seated down either side facing inwards on individual anti-mine blast seats. They enter and leave the Lakota by a large power-operated ramp in the hull rear that opens downwards and which is also provided with an emergency door in the center. In each side of the hull are three small bullet windows with firing port in the lower part. The Lakota uses a monocoque hull to reduce weight of the vehicle for a given amount of armor compared to vehicles to which armor has been attached to an underlying frame. The new armour technology of the Lakota provides a ballistic protection for the crew and the soldiers Level 4 STANAG 4569 against firing of small arms 14.5×114mm AP (Armor-Piercing) / B32 (7.62×54mm) at 200 meters. The Lakota also provides a mine/IED protection up to MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle.
|
| Mobility |
|
The Lakota 6x6 armoured vehicle is motorized with with a US-built engine Caterpillar C7 coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission Allison 3500. It can run at a maximum road speed of 100 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 890 km. It uses an 6x6 driveline on three axles with independent suspension on each wheel. The Lakota can negotiate gradients up to 60%, side slopes of 40% fording depth of 1.4 m without preparation. It can cross a trench of 1 m width and a vertical obstacle of 0.5 m.
|
| Accessories |
|
Standard equipment of the Lakota 6x6 armoured vehicle includes Central tires inflation system (CTIS), run-flat tires, 300A alternator, air conditioning and heating system, and Battlenet Inside Standard Pack which provides tactical views outside of the vehicle thanks to four perimeter cameras. The crew and the troops can see all the awareness situation of 360° around the vehicle on touchpad table 12". In option, the vehicle can be fitted with different types of equipment including NBC protection ystem, laser detection system, battle management system, day/night cameras, sniper acoustic detector, radio UHF/VHF/HF/PMR, specific intercom and police light-bar.
|
| |
| Specifications |
 Back to top |
|
Armament
|
|
One manual turret our remotely operated weapon station armed with 12.7mm or 7.62mm machine gun or automatic cannon up to 30mm caliber.
|
|
Country users
|
|
?
|
|
Designer Country
|
|
United States
|
|
Accessories
|
|
Central tires inflation ystem (CTIS), run-flat tires, 300A alternator, air conditioning and heating system, and Battlenet Inside Standard Pack
|
|
Crew
|
|
2 + 10
|
|
|
Armor
|
|
Protection: Ballistic Level 4 STANAG 4569, mine blast and shell splinters.
a
|
|
Weight
|
|
20,000 kg
|
|
Speed
|
|
100 km/h
|
|
Range
|
|
890 km
a
a
|
|
Dimensions
|
|
Lenght: 7.3 m; Width: 2.65 m; Height: 2.5 m
|
|
|
|
| |
|
