Saturday, September 4, 2010

Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV)

Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV)
The Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV), is an Australian version of the Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV-25) designed and manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada for the U.S. Marines. The initial design was the MOWAG Piranha 8x8, however the vehicle was re-designed to meet North American requirements and US Military Standards. It is a highly mobile, eight wheeled amphibious armoured vehicle used for reconnaissance and surveillance operations.





ASLAV
Type Eight-wheeled IFV
Place of origin Canada,

Australia
Service history
Used by Australian Army
Wars Iraq War, Afghanistan, East Timor
Production history
Designer MOWAG

General Motors Diesel Division Canada

General Dynamics Land Systems - Australia
Designed 1992–1994
Manufacturer General Motors Diesel Division Canada

General Dynamics Land Systems - Australia
Unit cost USD$2.0 million[1]
Produced 1995–2007
Number built 257
Variants ASLAV-25, ASLAV-PC, ASLAV-C, ASLAV-S, ASLAV-A, ASLAV-F, ASLAV-R
Specifications
Weight 13.2 tonnes
Length 6.53 m
Width 2.62 m
Height 2.69 m
Crew 3 + 6 troops

Armor Unknown
Primary

armament
25 mm M242 Chain Gun

720 rounds

Secondary

armament
7.62 mm MAG58 machine gun

1,200 rounds

Engine Detroit Diesel 6V-53T

275 hp (205 kW)
Power/weight 15.53 kW/tonne
Suspension 8 wheel independent
Operational

range
660 km (410 mi)
Speed 100 km/h (62 mph)




ASLAV IFVThe Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) has an eight wheeled configuration (capable of either four or eight wheel drive), is amphibious and has a range of 600 km with a top road speed of 100 km/h. The vehicle has excellent battlefield mobility, as all wheels are equipped with a solid-core secondary tyre next to the hub, allowing the vehicle to function even with eight flat tyres.

Phase 3 improvements include a laser range finder, the latest generation thermal imager, 28 V DC electric drive for the turret and improved suspension for the hull.

The heat of northern Australia poses special problems for armoured vehicle crews with interior temperatures reaching 55 °C (131 °F). The Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) is fitted with air-conditioning that reduces temperatures at the crew positions to outside levels. Increasing the versatility of the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) even more is the use of non-permanent Mission Role Installation Kits (MRIKs) to generate several variants from a single hull design. This is a unique Australian modification and much of the design and development work was done in Australia.

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