CaptainKidd
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Canadas Department of National Defence (DND) recently announced its intention to combine 3 programs into one general set of upgrades to its armored vehicle fleets. The C$ 2 billion meta-program would include (1) a close combat vehicle, in order to perform as a tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicle or Armored Personnel Carrier alongside Canadas new Leopard 2A6 tanks; (2) a new armoured tactical patrol vehicle; and (3) some kind of follow-on for the existing LAV-III wheeled APC fleet.
The close combat vehicle appears to be the most urgent purchase. As Tanks for the Lesson: Leopards, too, for Canada discussed, the LAV-IIIs cannot operate in key terrain within Afghanistan, and keeping them in the field requires a lot of maintenance. Canadas M113 tracked APCs have been used successfully, but the Canadians appear to be leaning toward a heavier vehicle
* The Close Combat Vehicle
* The Armored Tactical Patrol Vehicle
* LAV-IIIs, and the RESET/RECAP Imperative
* Updates and Developments
* Additional Readings & Sources
The Close Combat Vehicle
CF M113 Afghanistan
CF M113, Afghanistan
(click to view larger)
An Ottawa Citizen reports drives the mobility point home:
Defence sources say the current LAV-3 does not have the mobility needed for the job in off-road conditions. The likely preferred option is to go for a tracked vehicle.
The question is, what kind of tracked vehicle?
Existing M113s could be upgraded with cage and/or explosive reactive armor, upgraded with a higher caliber turret or remote weapon system, and have their engines and transmissions upgraded to M113A3 or better status. Australia has taken this approach, absent the full explosive reactive armor protection required to defeat early model Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) anti-tank rockets. Canada s own M113 Life Extension Project has been underway since 2000, but its aim has mostly been to improve maintenance with new engines and transmissions, while converting most of Canadas M113s to specialty support variants. This makes them less than ideal candidates.
LAND_CV90-40.jpg
Swedish CV90-40
(click to view full)
At the moment, the preferred CCV choice appears to be BAE Hagglunds CV90 series. This popular armored vehicle comes in a number of variants, including IFV troop carriers with turret options ranging from 30mm-40mm, up-gunned 105mm and even 120mm assault guns and tank killers (105 or 120T), reconnaissance and forward observation (FOV), C2 forward command (FCV or COM), armored recovery (ARV), and a 40mm anti-aircraft model (AAV). Canada had expressed interest during the vehicles initial development, but backed out; a purchase now would make them its 7th customer, alongside Sweden, Denmark, Finland, The Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland.
If Canada does purchase CV90s, there are rumors that it will adopt that same approach used to buy Leopard 2 tanks: immediate lease from an existing owner to get the vehicles into the field quickly, followed by a longer-term purchase or lease-to-buy arrangement. Sweden would be the most likely lease owner candidate, and that country recently announced its intent to deploy its own CV90s to Afghanistan in light of a growing threat from RPGs.
Their decision was helped along by the fact that CV90s have been decisive for the Norwegians in 2 separate battles. In November 2007, CV90s saw heavy combat during Operation Harekate Yolo in Afghanistan, where they were used alongside outnumbered Norwegian 2nd battalion and Kystjegerkommandoen troops to beat down a Taliban attack on in the Ghowrmach district, near Mazar-e-Sharif. In May 2008, 2nd battalion used them during Operation Karez in Badghis Province. An attempted Taliban ambush used heavy machine gun fire and RPG volleys, which could have been devastating against unarmored or lightly armored vehicles. Instead, 2nd battalion used its CV90s to kill the ambushers. Norwegian casualties? None.
LAND BvS10 Under RAF CH-47
RAF CH-47 w. BvS10,
Afghanistan
(click to view full)
The other touted contender in press reports is the German Puma IFV, which is under contract but not yet operational. Canada would become the vehicles 2nd customer behind Germany, but this version offers no possibility of immediate bridging leases or lease-to-buy arrangements from an existing customer.
Despite their successful use by British forces in Afghanistan, and the presence of Bv206 vehicles that performed well with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group during Afghanistans Operation Anaconda, the much lighter BvS10 all terrain armored vehicle has not been mentioned in reports to date. Canada appears to prefer a heavier vehicle with a demonstrated capacity to defeat RPG rounds, over the BvS familys improved air and ground mobility.
BAEs M2A3 Bradley IFV is a vehicle in that category, which would be available as rapid-delivery vehicles from the US Army and its Bradley remanufacturing lines. It has also been absent from press mentions to date.
The Armored Tactical Patrol Vehicle
RG-31 and G-Wagen
RG-31 and G-Wagen
(click to view full)
The second program, for an Armored Tactical Patrol Vehicle, is more ambiguous. Canada currently operates 50-75 RG-31 Nyala Armoured Patrol Vehicles in Afghanistan, which have had some maintenance issues but performed well as route-clearance vehicles and convoy leads. A handful of heavier Cougar 6×6 and Buffalo vehicles currently round out Canadas blast-resistant vehicle fleet, with 50 more on the way. They are accompanied by a large number of Mercedes G-Wagen vehicles, whose protection level is very low far too low for deployment as a patrol vehicle in combat zones.
The ATPV could be Canadas long-term MRAP buy of blast-resistant vehicles, replacing and supplementing its RG-31s. It could also wind up as something closer to the American/Australian JLTV competition for a lighter 7-10 ton vehicle set, with blast protection that compares with an RG-31 but possessed of far better off-road and urban mobility.
Time will tell.
LAV-IIIs, and the RESET/RECAP Imperative
LAV-III Afghanistan
Canadian LAV-III,
Afghanistan
(click to view full)
The third vehicle program would involve Canadas LAV-III fleet, which is being ground down by Afghan operations. An up-armoring program is underway for the existing fleet, but that fleet will eventually need to be RESET, remanufactured, or replaced.
General Dynamics Canada, which manufactures the LAV-III for Canadian and American customers, has reportedly floated the idea of a LAV-H (Heavy) replacement that would incorporate a slightly v-hulled sub-floor for added mine protection, while raising the vehicles maximum recommended weight from 17.2t/ 38,000 pounds to 25t/ 55,100 pounds in order to cope with additional equipment and heavier armor.
The other option for the Canadian Forces is some form of full RESET program, similar to the efforts by the US Army to restore its vehicles to zero mile configuration. At present, the CASR think tank states that All Afghan-deployed LAV IIIs must be rotated out for refit and repair every 12 months; but this is more akin to depot maintenance than full disassembly and RESET.
The Canadian Army adds that this problem is not unique to the LAV-III platform, as they grapple with the same vehicle wear issues experienced by the Americans, British, and Dutch. From the Ottawa Citizen:
The close combat vehicle appears to be the most urgent purchase. As Tanks for the Lesson: Leopards, too, for Canada discussed, the LAV-IIIs cannot operate in key terrain within Afghanistan, and keeping them in the field requires a lot of maintenance. Canadas M113 tracked APCs have been used successfully, but the Canadians appear to be leaning toward a heavier vehicle
* The Close Combat Vehicle
* The Armored Tactical Patrol Vehicle
* LAV-IIIs, and the RESET/RECAP Imperative
* Updates and Developments
* Additional Readings & Sources
The Close Combat Vehicle
CF M113 Afghanistan
CF M113, Afghanistan
(click to view larger)
An Ottawa Citizen reports drives the mobility point home:
Defence sources say the current LAV-3 does not have the mobility needed for the job in off-road conditions. The likely preferred option is to go for a tracked vehicle.
The question is, what kind of tracked vehicle?
Existing M113s could be upgraded with cage and/or explosive reactive armor, upgraded with a higher caliber turret or remote weapon system, and have their engines and transmissions upgraded to M113A3 or better status. Australia has taken this approach, absent the full explosive reactive armor protection required to defeat early model Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) anti-tank rockets. Canada s own M113 Life Extension Project has been underway since 2000, but its aim has mostly been to improve maintenance with new engines and transmissions, while converting most of Canadas M113s to specialty support variants. This makes them less than ideal candidates.
LAND_CV90-40.jpg
Swedish CV90-40
(click to view full)
At the moment, the preferred CCV choice appears to be BAE Hagglunds CV90 series. This popular armored vehicle comes in a number of variants, including IFV troop carriers with turret options ranging from 30mm-40mm, up-gunned 105mm and even 120mm assault guns and tank killers (105 or 120T), reconnaissance and forward observation (FOV), C2 forward command (FCV or COM), armored recovery (ARV), and a 40mm anti-aircraft model (AAV). Canada had expressed interest during the vehicles initial development, but backed out; a purchase now would make them its 7th customer, alongside Sweden, Denmark, Finland, The Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland.
If Canada does purchase CV90s, there are rumors that it will adopt that same approach used to buy Leopard 2 tanks: immediate lease from an existing owner to get the vehicles into the field quickly, followed by a longer-term purchase or lease-to-buy arrangement. Sweden would be the most likely lease owner candidate, and that country recently announced its intent to deploy its own CV90s to Afghanistan in light of a growing threat from RPGs.
Their decision was helped along by the fact that CV90s have been decisive for the Norwegians in 2 separate battles. In November 2007, CV90s saw heavy combat during Operation Harekate Yolo in Afghanistan, where they were used alongside outnumbered Norwegian 2nd battalion and Kystjegerkommandoen troops to beat down a Taliban attack on in the Ghowrmach district, near Mazar-e-Sharif. In May 2008, 2nd battalion used them during Operation Karez in Badghis Province. An attempted Taliban ambush used heavy machine gun fire and RPG volleys, which could have been devastating against unarmored or lightly armored vehicles. Instead, 2nd battalion used its CV90s to kill the ambushers. Norwegian casualties? None.
LAND BvS10 Under RAF CH-47
RAF CH-47 w. BvS10,
Afghanistan
(click to view full)
The other touted contender in press reports is the German Puma IFV, which is under contract but not yet operational. Canada would become the vehicles 2nd customer behind Germany, but this version offers no possibility of immediate bridging leases or lease-to-buy arrangements from an existing customer.
Despite their successful use by British forces in Afghanistan, and the presence of Bv206 vehicles that performed well with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group during Afghanistans Operation Anaconda, the much lighter BvS10 all terrain armored vehicle has not been mentioned in reports to date. Canada appears to prefer a heavier vehicle with a demonstrated capacity to defeat RPG rounds, over the BvS familys improved air and ground mobility.
BAEs M2A3 Bradley IFV is a vehicle in that category, which would be available as rapid-delivery vehicles from the US Army and its Bradley remanufacturing lines. It has also been absent from press mentions to date.
The Armored Tactical Patrol Vehicle
RG-31 and G-Wagen
RG-31 and G-Wagen
(click to view full)
The second program, for an Armored Tactical Patrol Vehicle, is more ambiguous. Canada currently operates 50-75 RG-31 Nyala Armoured Patrol Vehicles in Afghanistan, which have had some maintenance issues but performed well as route-clearance vehicles and convoy leads. A handful of heavier Cougar 6×6 and Buffalo vehicles currently round out Canadas blast-resistant vehicle fleet, with 50 more on the way. They are accompanied by a large number of Mercedes G-Wagen vehicles, whose protection level is very low far too low for deployment as a patrol vehicle in combat zones.
The ATPV could be Canadas long-term MRAP buy of blast-resistant vehicles, replacing and supplementing its RG-31s. It could also wind up as something closer to the American/Australian JLTV competition for a lighter 7-10 ton vehicle set, with blast protection that compares with an RG-31 but possessed of far better off-road and urban mobility.
Time will tell.
LAV-IIIs, and the RESET/RECAP Imperative
LAV-III Afghanistan
Canadian LAV-III,
Afghanistan
(click to view full)
The third vehicle program would involve Canadas LAV-III fleet, which is being ground down by Afghan operations. An up-armoring program is underway for the existing fleet, but that fleet will eventually need to be RESET, remanufactured, or replaced.
General Dynamics Canada, which manufactures the LAV-III for Canadian and American customers, has reportedly floated the idea of a LAV-H (Heavy) replacement that would incorporate a slightly v-hulled sub-floor for added mine protection, while raising the vehicles maximum recommended weight from 17.2t/ 38,000 pounds to 25t/ 55,100 pounds in order to cope with additional equipment and heavier armor.
The other option for the Canadian Forces is some form of full RESET program, similar to the efforts by the US Army to restore its vehicles to zero mile configuration. At present, the CASR think tank states that All Afghan-deployed LAV IIIs must be rotated out for refit and repair every 12 months; but this is more akin to depot maintenance than full disassembly and RESET.
The Canadian Army adds that this problem is not unique to the LAV-III platform, as they grapple with the same vehicle wear issues experienced by the Americans, British, and Dutch. From the Ottawa Citizen:
