Saha Expo International Defense Exhibition Turkey Istanbul

LAV 25

LAV-25 Light Armoured Vehicle

Description

Technical Data

Specifications

Details view

Pictures - Video

Description

The LAV-25 is an 8x8 amphibious reconnaissance armored vehicle designed and manufactured by the American Company General Dynamics Land Systems. The vehicle is mainly used by the United States Marine Corps. The LAV-25 is based on the Swiss 8x8 armored vehicle Piranha I manufactured by the Swiss Company Mowag, now a subdivision of General Dynamics Land Systems. In September 1981, General Motors of Canada (now General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada), was awarded a $3.1 U.S. million contract by the United States Marine Corps to supply four 8 × 8 models of the Swiss MOWAG Piranha vehicle. In September 1982, it was announced that the then Diesel Division, General Motors of Canada, had won the LAV competition. The original five-year contract was to have been for 969 LAVs, 680 for the US Army and 289 for the US Marine Corps with a total value of US$477.8 million, and an option for a further 598 vehicles. In 1994, the U.S. military withdrew from the program, and all the vehicles were delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps. Final deliveries of the LAV were made to the US Marine Corps in 1988. The LAV was also delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps in several variants.

Variants

- LAV-25A1: upgrade of standard LAV vehicle under the program SLEP (Service Life Extension System). The new modification or SLEP has changed the LAV-25 to the LAV-25A1 standard and has been completely fielded. The basic SLEP program encompasses two primary components, survivability, and reliability. The survivability parts include add-on camouflage panels for visual and thermal signature reduction as well as thermal treatment for the exhaust. The first basic SLEP LAV vehicles entered service in May 2003 and are designated A1.
- LAV-25A2: with new external and internal ballistic armor upgrades, improved fire suppression equipment, and upgrading the vehicle's suspension to the Generation II standard. The LAV-25A2 includes the Improved Thermal Sight System (ITSS) developed by Raytheon. The ITSS provides the gunner and commander with thermal images, an eye-safe laser range finder, a fire-control solution, and far-target location target grid information.
- LAV-AT: equipped with an Emerson 901A1 TOW-2 ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile) launcher.
- LAV-M: mortar carrier with an 81mm mortar mounted at the rear of the vehicle
- LAV-AD: equipped with an electric turret mounting a General Dynamics GAU-12 Equalizer 25 mm (0.984 in) 5-barreled Gatling cannon, and two missile pods each with 4× FIM-92 Stinger missiles for Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) duties.
- LAV-R: recovery vehicle with a boom crane and recovery winch.
- LAV-C2: command vehicle with a raised roof to accommodate several VHF, UHF, and HF radios.
- LAV-LOG: modified vehicle for lgistic role.
- LAV-MEWSS (Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System): LAV equipped with electronic warfare equipment.

Technical Data

Armament

The LAV-25 is armed with an automatic M242 25 mm chain gun. A 7.62mm machine gun is mounted to the right of the main armament, another 7.62 mm machine gun is mounted on the top of the turret. Four smoke grenade dischargers are mounted to each side in front of the turret. The turret can be rotated at 360° with elevation +60° and depression -10° for the main armament.

Design and protection

The hull and the turret of the LAV-25 are made of all-welded steel which provides protection for the crew against the firing of small arms and shell splinters. The vehicle can be fitted with add-on armor to provide protection against 14.5mm caliber all around and 30 mm at the front. The driver is seated in the front left of the hull with the engine on his right. The turret is mounted in the center of the hull, with the commander seated on the right and the gunner on the left, with both having a single-piece hatch cover that opens to the rear. The rear part of the hull can accommodate six fully-equipped infantrymen in three seats benches on either side of the hull. Two firing ports with day periscope are mounted at the rear of each side of the hull. The infantrymen can leave and enter in the vehicle via two doors that open outwards to the left and right at the rear of the hull. Over the troop's compartment are two roof hatches that open left and right.

Mobility

The LAV-25 is motorized with a Detroit Diesel 6V-53T engine, 6-cylinder diesel developing 275 hp at 2,800 rpm. The vehicle uses a 4-wheel drive (rear wheels) transferable to 8-wheel drive with independent torsion bars and shock absorbers. The LAV-25 can run at a maximum road speed of 100 km with a maximum cruising range of 660 km. The vehicle can climb up to 60% gradient and vertical obstacle of 0.5 m, move on a 30% side slope and cross a trench of a maximum of 2 m.

Accessories

The LAV-25 is air-deployable in current US Air Force cargo transports. The C-5A can carry eight, the C-17 six, the C-141 two, and the C-130 one. The US Marine Corps CH-53E transport helicopter can transport one in the sling position. The LAV-25 is fully amphibious and propelled in the water at a maximum speed of 12 km/hr by two propellers mounted on either side at the rear of the hull. Standard equipment of LAV-25 includes an automatic fire detection and suppression system in the engine and crew compartment, a hydraulic winch with a capacity of 6,804 kg mounted at the front of the hull, NBC protection system of the ventilated face mask type, a wire cutter for commander and driver; and communications systems. Hot/cold weather equipment fitted includes a dual hydraulically driven air conditioning system, fuel-fired high-capacity crew heater, engine coolant preheater for -40ºC cold start and engine glow plugs for cold start.

Specifications