- Yes
- No
LAV 6.0 is the upgraded version of the LAV III, It is one of the new faces to the Canadian Armed Forces arsenal.
History
For LAV III history please check out my LAV III post
In 2009 the Canadian Government decided to upgrade and update their LAV III’s the upgraded version was called the LAV VI or LAV 6.0. This upgrade would improve its survivability against modern threats, IED’s and extend the service life of the LAV’s to 2035.
The cost for these upgrades cost around 1.75$ Billion
LAV 6.0 were first deployed in Latvia during Operation REASSURANCE in 2017.
Canada currently has around 976 LAV 6.0’s. 616 of which are the Infantry Section Carrier variant which is the variant that is fitted with the 25mm Bushmaster, and the later Lav 6.0’s being ACSV’s which are LAV’s without the bushmaster as troop transport, recover, medic etc.
With the retiring of the LAV III, there was role that the the replacement need to fill with was RECCE (Reconnaissance) General Dynamic’s land systems Canada ended up filling this role by modifying a LAV 6 into a LAV 6 Recce, this included mounting a LRSS system to the vehicle. Deliveries of the system for the vehicles that were selected to become LAV 6 Recce’s were to have been completed in 2020, but issues arose when the supplier of the system went bankrupt with delayed the program however they were able to get their first deliver as of August 1st, 2022. And is estimated to be operational ready by March of 2024.
Differences of the LAV 6.0 to the LAVIII
- Upgraded add on armour-kits
- Double V-shaped Hull
- Better Suspension
- Better Engine
- Energy attenuating seating (Blast protection seats)
- Upgraded Sights
- Upgraded Technological systems
- Spall liner
- Has limited variants compared to the LAV III
- *A lot of sources state an upgrade to lethality
*(I cannot find what was upgraded to make it more lethal)
Specifications:
Crew: 3
Mass: Basic weight: 20,638 kg (45,500 lbs) | Combat load (with Add-on-Armour): 28,576 kg (63,000 lbs)
Engine: Caterpillar C9
Top Speed: On road 100 km/h | Off-Road: 40 km/h
Horse Power: 450
Maximum grade: 60%
Side slope: 30%
Ditch cross: 2 m
Weapons:
M242 25-mm Bushmaster cannon (already found in game on the M3 and M3A3 Bradley’s) [500 rounds]
I cannot find the exact ammunition it uses but the LAV II had the same gun, and used armour-piercing sabot and HE-T (NATO Standard))
C9A2 5.56-mm LMG
C6 7.62-mm coaxial MMG
Extras:
2 - 76-mm 4-barrel smoke grenade launchers [8 smoke grenade reload stowed inside]
Has a heat-absorbing filter to protect against thermals and IR
Driver, Commander, and Gunner Daytime Optical TIS (Thermal Imaging System) and Generation III Image Intensification (II) (Night Vision)
Independent Hydropneumatic suspension for each wheel
LWS (Laser Warning System)
Quiet APU (Auxiliary Power unit) for Silent watch
Laser Range Finder
Run-Flat Tires
Not amphibious (only LAV I’s are amphibious)
Each of the 8 wheels can be independently driven
Pictures:
General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada LAV Brochure
General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada LAV Brochure 2
Sources:
https://www.gdlscanada.com/products/LAV/LAV-6.0.html
