home Weapons Electronic Warfare New Light-Armored Vehicle Under Development

New Light-Armored Vehicle Under Development

Jul 18, 2019

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew)

Technology is rapidly flourishing as many new vehicles and equipment for the military are being regularly produced. The US military has been using the same light-armored vehicle (LAV) for over 20 years now and it is finally time for a replacement. The LAV has been put in to good use as it was utilized during the Iraq War, the Gulf War, and the War in Afghanistan; however, it is now time for a change.

Researchers from the Office of Naval Research are developing a new and improved light-armored vehicle for the U.S. Marine Corps that will provide many more uses than the LAV, according to spacedaily.com. The vehicle known as the ARV, is set to take action before the mid-2030s, which happens to be the end of a long and well served life-cycle for the LAV.

The ARV will be a contemporary armored reconnaissance vehicle used to survey the battlefield with the ability to deliver damage. The vehicle will contain improved sensors that include many new assets such as a daylight camera, laser rangefinder, and thermal imager. The vehicle is also set to receive modernized lethality options and communication systems. This will make transmitting important information much more feasible when needed to do so. All of these attributes will give the vehicle the ability to examine enemy territory, kill key targets, and report important data back to the rest of the Corps.

Another major aim intended for the ARV will be to launch Unmanned Aerial Systems out into battle. The UAS will then inspect the battlefield and notify the ARV if use of electronic warfare is necessary. The vehicles will retain an arsenal of medium-caliber automatic cannons, long-range missiles, and anti-armor firepower for heavy tanks. The ARV can definitely be lethal with all this new weaponry intended on being equipped.

The LAV has a max capacity of carrying six troops who can go out and fight on foot, while the ARV is still not certain on how many troops it will be able to transport.

There is currently no way of knowing how expensive this vehicle will be to produce since there has not been a set price. The ARV plans to be ready in the next decade or so and proves to contribute much more than the current LAV.