US Army conducts firing tests with LAV 700 8x8 armored vehicle armed with 50mm XM913 Bushmaster cannon.

According to a video released by the United States Department of Defense on November 2, 2021, recorded during the Project Convergence 21 exercise, the U.S. Army has conducted firing tests with a LAV 700 8x8 armored vehicle fitted with a turret armed with a 50mm XM913 Bushmaster automatic cannon.
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LAV 700 firing test during Project Convergence 2021 (Picture source: U.S. DoD video footage by Sgt. 1st Class Henry Gundacker, Army Futures Command)

Project Convergence is the United States Army's campaign of learning designed to aggressively advance and integrate our Army's contributions, based on a continuous structured series of demonstrations and experiments throughout the year. It ensures that the Army is part of the joint fight and can rapidly and continuously integrate or converge effects across all domains: air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace; to overmatch our adversaries in competition and conflict.

The LAV 700 is an upgraded version of the LAV 6 8x8 armored vehicle developed for the Canadian Army by General Dynamics. The vehicle was unveiled during the edition 2017 of IDEX, International Defense Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The LAV 6.0 is the designation given by the Canadian Army to its enhanced LAV III platform, upgraded specifically to respond to requirements emerging from a decade of in-theatre experience in Afghanistan. It was deployed by the Canadian army in 2017 when it accompanied Canadian soldiers deployed in Latvia in support of Operation REASSURANCE.

The LAV 6.0 is equipped with an upgraded, next-generation 6.0 suspension and a 450-hp power pack. It offers enhanced protection provided by its blast-deflecting double-VTM hull and energy attenuating seating, while also improving ingress and egress. The vehicle also features a fully digital electronic architecture with increased electrical generation and situational awareness, improved turret human factors, and upgraded sight systems.

Such as the previous LAV vehicle, the LAV 700 features inherent mine blast protection via a Double V-Hull chassis design, scalable ballistic protection, energy attenuating seats, and laser warning system. Crew protection is also provided by NBC detection/protection system, automatic fire suppression and multi-spectral smoke grenade launchers. EO/IR systems provide surveillance through 360° direct view optics. Leading-edge systems and various sensors coupled to open architecture C4 system, fully compatible with radios and connected equipment, ensure full mission capability.

General Dynamics Land Systems LAV 700 8x8 armored vehicle at IDEX defense exhibition, February 2017. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The LAV 700 can be equipped with different types of weapon stations including a 12.7/7.62 mm remote-controlled weapon station, medium caliber turret with 30/40 mm cannon, large-caliber turret with 90 or 105 mm gun, semi/automatic 120 mm mortar, as well as an anti-tank guided missile in stand-alone or integrated to medium caliber turret.

The LAV 700 has a length of 8.2 m, a width of 3.0 m, and a height of 2.8 m. It has a payload of 11,000 kg and a gross vehicle weight of 32,000 kg. It is powered by a Caterpillar C13 engine developing 711hp coupled to a 7-speed automatic transmission. This gives the LAV 700 a maximum speed of 110 km/h and a range of almost 1,000 km.

In October 2019, Northrop Grumman has unveiled the XM913 50mm Bushmaster at the AUSA (Association of the United States Army) defense exhibition and conference that was held in Washington D.C., United States. The XM193 is based on the proven Bushmaster III 35/50 design and is intended to provide increased capability against modern infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) designs along with counter-UAS (unmanned aerial systems).

The XM913 weapon developed in partnership with Northrop Grumman Defense Systems improves upon traditional chain gun technology. New design improvements will enhance the weapon’s precision and accuracy through optimized mechanical design and advanced weapon control systems.

The XM913 50mm cannon can hit ranges more than twice as far as the roughly 2-kilometer range of the Bradley Fighting Vehicles existing M242 25mm cannon. The 50mm is being engineered to address this potential disparity, by hitting ranges well over 4 km. The 50mm cannon can blend a variety of emerging, high-tech armored vehicle attack technologies into a single system — to include advanced fire-control, automated targeting sensors, next-gen ammunition, new computer processing speed, and longer-range medium caliber attack options.

New Northrop Grumman XM913 50mm automatic cannon at AUSA defense exhibition, October 2019. (Picture source: Army Recognition)