Enhanced protection

General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada (GDLS-Canada, Booth 1301) is showcasing a Maintenance and Recovery Vehicle (MRV) variant of the LAV 6.0 8x8 Combat Support Vehicle (CSV) platform with enhanced protection packages from Elbit Systems of Israel and MyDefence of Denmark.

A candidate for the Canadian Army’s current Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV) requirement, the LAV 6.0 MRV uses the fielded LAV 6.0 baseline incorporating variant rolespecific solutions that offer highly protected mobile recovery, repair and maintenance capabilities. The platform is able to access the same terrain as the LAV 6.0 fleet and provides integral recovery and maintenance capabilities with the necessary tools and spare equipment.

The internal configuration of the LAV 6.0 MRV provides for a crew of two, plus two mechanics or casualty passengers; tool storage is readily accessible for vehicle recovery and heavy-duty remove and replace operations.

While the MRV features the same protection as the baseline LAV 6.0 configuration – a double-V hull, energy attenuated seating for all positions, a spall liner and scalable add-on armour kit options – GDLS-Canada has also mounted Elbit Systems’ Iron Fist Light Decoupled (IF-LD) hard kill active protection system (APS) along with a MyDefence Knox counter unmanned aerial system (CUAS) package.

Already in service on US Army and Israel Defence Force (IDF) vehicles, the Iron Fist APS is designed to protect the host platform with a capability to defeat anti-tank guided missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, and recoilless rifle threats. Developed in partnership with General Systems (GD-OTS), IF-LD features four search-and-track radars and staring infrared sensor panels providing 360° coverage in azimuth and an undisclosed angle of elevation, and two traversable hard kill interceptor launchers with associated line-replaceable units, which include the main control computer and a threat database.

The IF-LD system has not been fully integrated with the LAV 6.0 MRV, and system trials on the platform are yet to be confirmed. The MyDefence Knox CUAS comprises an integrated array of networked Watchdog 200 sensors and Doberman RF jammers that will enable LAV operators to detect frequencies of UASs, drones and operators, and use jammers to disrupt their radio frequencies and the Global Navigation Satellite continued from page 1 System (GNSS) signals of UAS operations, to defeat the threat. The solution can be integrated with third-party battlemanagement systems, and using a standard tactical link, the mobile platform can communicate and provide feedback to any remote command and control system, enabling greater situational awareness and enhanced battlefield effectiveness.

GDLS-Canada spokesperson Doug Wilson-Hodge told the CANSEC Show Daily: “The LAV 6.0 MRV demonstrates that GDLS-Canada is ready to respond to current Armoured Combat Support Vehicle programme requirements.

“Incorporating CUAS and APS technologies on the same vehicle also demonstrates that General Dynamics is anticipating future threats and the capability requirements for the protection of the LAV platform.”