14/2/24, 20:53 LAV III Kodiak Armored Personnel Carrier | MilitaryToday.

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LAV III Kodiak

Armored personnel carrier

The LAV III Kodiak armored personnel carrier entered service with Canadian Army in 1999

Country of origin Canada

Entered service 1999
The LAV III Kodiak armored personnel carrier is a
Crew 3 men
license produced version of Swiss MOWAG Piranha
Personnel 6 - 7 men IIIH. Vehicle is produced by General Motors Land
Dimensions and weight Systems. It entered service with the Canadian Army in
Weight 16.95 t 1999. At some point Canadian Army operated 651 of
Weight (with add-on armor) 19 t these armored vehicles in various versions. The LAV III
Length 6.93 m was the primary Canadian mechanized infantry vehicle,
Width 2.66 m which replaced the M113 and other vehicles. It formed
Height 2.8 m the backbone of the Canadian armored vehicle fleet.
Armament Since 2011 Canadian Army signed contracts to upgrade
25 mm chain gun
Main gun 616 of its LAV III vehicles to a LAV 6.0 standard.
Machine guns 1 x 7.62 mm, 1 x 5.56 mm
Deliveries reportedly commenced in 2015 and are
Ammunition load
planned to be completed in 2017. Export operators of
Main gun 500 rounds
?
the LAV III are USA and New Zealand. The US Army
Machine guns
Mobility
uses a modified variant, called Stryker, which is fitted
Engine Caterpillar 3126 diesel
with remote weapon station in place of the turret.
Engine power 350 hp The Kodiak has improved armor protection,
100 km/h
Maximum road speed comparing with previous Swiss MOWAG Piranhas.
Range 450 km
Basic armor provides all-round protection against 7.62
Maneuverability
mm rounds. A ceramic add-on armor can be installed
Gradient 60%
30%
for a higher level of protection. It protects against 14.5
Side slope
Vertical step 0.6 m
mm machine guns fire. Some sources claim, that front
Trench 2m
armor of the Kodiak with add-on armor plates can
Fording 1.2 m withstand hits from 30 mm cannons. It makes the LAV
III one of the most protected armored personnel carrier

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14/2/24, 20:53 LAV III Kodiak Armored Personnel Carrier | MilitaryToday.com
in the world. This armored vehicle can be also fitted with a cage armor, which provides protection against anti-
tank rockets. Undercarriage was strengthened for improved mine-blast survivability. Vehicle is fitted with an
automatic fire suppression system and NBC protection system.
In 2009 to address the threat of improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan the Canadian LAV IIIs were fitted
with new belly and side armor, as well as energy absorbing seats. Though this increased the weight to 23.6 t.
The LAV III Kodiak is fitted with a two-man turret, armed with the M242 Bushmaster 25 mm chain gun and
coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun. One more 5.56 mm machine gun is positioned on top of the roof. The 25 mm
chain gun fire standard NATO 25 mm ammunition. It has a 2 400 m range of effective fire. Both gunner and
commander can fire the gun.
The Kodiak has a crew of three, and can carry 6-7 troops. Soldiers enter and leave the vehicle through the
rear ramp or roof hatches.
Vehicle is powered by a Caterpillar 3126 diesel engine, developing 350 horsepower. It is fitted with a central
tyre inflation system, which allows to adjust to different terrain, thus extending cross-country mobility. The LAV
III Kodiak armored personnel carrier is not amphibious.

Variants

ISC armored personnel carrier.

CPV command vehicle.
TUA anti-tank guided weapon carrier.
OPV artillery forward observation vehicle.
MMEV multi-mission effects vehicle.
ELAV armored engineering vehicle.
Stryker armored personnel carrier, in service with US Army.
NZLAV armored personnel carrier, in service with New Zealand Army.
LAV UP or LAV 6.0 is an upgraded version of the LAV III. Since 2011 Canadian Army signed contracts to
upgrade 616 of its LAV III vehicles to the new standard. Deliveries reportedly commenced in 2015 and are
planned to be completed in 2017. Upgraded vehicles have a double V-shaped hull for improved protection
against landmines and improvised explosive devices. Upgraded vehicle has a more powerful engine,
developing 450 hp. Other improvements include new turret sights and improved fire control system. It is
planned that upgraded Canadian vehicles will remain operational until 2035. The LAV 6.0 is also being
proposed for various export customers. Saudi Arabia ordered a large number of these armored vehicles.

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