General Dynamics to upgrade LAV III vehicles

General Dynamics Land Systems–Canada will upgrade Canada's Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) III vehicles under a CAD $404 million contract amendment announced on 10 February.

The company will upgrade 141 vehicles to the new LAV 6.0 configuration. The upgrade includes the double-V hull, protection and mobility enhancements, onboard vetronics and capacity for future growth and modularity.

The Canadian Army's decision to upgrade is a direct result of lessons learned by the Canadian Army in Afghanistan. In addition to enhancing vehicle performance and survivability, the upgrade ensures the consistency and availability of equipment for training and deployments.

The company was awarded a contact in October 2011 to incorporate a comprehensive upgrade package into 550 of the Canadian Army's fleet of LAV III combat vehicles and extend their life to 2035.

Danny Deep, vice president of General Dynamics Land Systems–Canada, said: 'We are committed to delivering highly protected, flexible and capable vehicles to our soldiers and the LAV 6.0 provides the Canadian Army with best-in-class protection and mobility. This announcement is welcome news to the London area and to our suppliers across Canada whose jobs will be sustained with this additional work.'