LAV III Kodiak

History

The LAV III "Kodiak" is based on the successful Swiss MOWAG Piranha III and is the infantry fighting vehicle of choice for the Canadian Army. The non-amphibious 8-wheel system has proven to be a favorite among operators looking to update their aging APC system with excellent off-road performance and chassis adaptability, which has been used with the US Army such as the Stryker, the Australian Army A home has been found (as ASLAV-25) in Romania and New Zealand, as well as Canada.

The adaptability of the LAV III chassis will undoubtedly ensure its use for decades to come.

Armor is the price of any APC crew, and the Kodiak didn't disappoint. Standard thickness protects against 7.62mm bullets, while additional decal armor can increase this level of protection to 14.5mm large caliber bullets.

The experience of the insurgents also forced a redesign of the hull bottom to improve mine protection. Standard armament is a 1 x 25mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun mounted in a powered turret for 360 degree protection. There is also a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun (also in the turret) and a 5.56mm machine gun on the roof. The crew quarters are for three people, while an additional 6 to 7 combat-ready troops can be carried as passengers. Access is via the rear ramp or roof hatch.

The Kodiak is powered by a 350 hp Caterpillar diesel engine, which ensures a speed of 100 km/h and a range of around 450 km.

The Kodiak has produced 650 units since it entered service in 1999, all handled by General Motors Land Systems. The most popular LAV III in service today is probably still the American "Stryker" series, as the unit has seen extensive service in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Stryker replaces the standard turret with a remote weapon station. Other variants of the Kodiak series include command vehicles, anti-tank missile carriers and front gun observation vehicles.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

500x25mm ammo

2,000(?) x 7.62mm ammo

1,000(?) x 5.56mm ammo

Changes