Canada Completes Delivery of 22 NZLAV 8x8 Vehicles to Chile From New Zealand.

The Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) has completed the delivery of 22 NZLAV 8x8 vehicles to the Chilean Marine Corps. The company handled the delivery of surplus vehicles from the New Zealand forces that had been awaiting a potential sale since 2012.
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New Zealand Light Armored Vehicle 8x8 (Picture source: New Zealand Defence Force)

The New Zealand Defence Force announced the sale of 22 NZLAV 8x8 vehicles to Chile on April 20, 2022. The first batch arrived in San Antonio in September 2022, followed by the second batch in early July of this year. The NZLAV 8x8 enhances the operational capabilities of the Chilean Marine Corps, providing greater tactical flexibility and improved force protection through an effective combination of firepower and mobility.

The NZLAV, or New Zealand Light Armored Vehicle, is a mobile light armored vehicle used by the New Zealand Army for reconnaissance and advanced observation. It measures 6.98 meters in length, 2.83 meters in width, and 2.87 meters in height, weighing between 19 and 21 tons depending on the configuration. It can be transported by land, sea, and air.

The vehicle has a crew of three, including the commander, gunner, and driver, and can carry seven fully-equipped soldiers. Its primary armament is a 25 mm Northrop Grumman M242 Bushmaster automatic cannon with 420 rounds. It also features two 7.62 x 51 mm FN Herstal Mag machine guns and eight grenade or smoke launchers for self-defense.

The NZLAV 8x8 offers full protection against 7.62 mm ammunition and can be equipped with an additional ceramic armor kit for protection against 14.5 mm machine gun fire. It has reinforced running gear for enhanced mine protection and automatic fire-extinguishing and NBC protection systems.

Powered by a 350 hp Caterpillar 3126 HEUI diesel engine, the armored vehicle features a hydropneumatic suspension system and is equipped with a central tire inflation system controlled from the driver's station to adapt to varying terrain conditions.

The vehicle is a version of the LAV III, built in Canada by General Dynamics Land Systems, and is licensed from the Mowag Piranha 8x8. A total of 103 units were purchased by New Zealand in the early 2000s. The vehicles received by Chile had been in long-term storage since 2012, awaiting a potential sale.

The NZLAV 8x8 vehicles, manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada and previously part of the New Zealand Army's surplus inventory, will contribute to Chile's coastal and territorial defense. They will also support humanitarian efforts in natural disasters like earthquakes and floods.