LAV III

The LAV III is the third generation of the Light Armoured Vehicle family of eight-wheeled armoured personnel carriers built by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada, a London, Ontario subsidiary of General Dynamics. Based on the Mowag Piranha 3H platform, it won the Canadian contract in August 1995 for GM Diesel, later GM Defense and then bought by General Dynamics Land Systems, to replace the Grizzly and a large share of the M113 carriers. It entered service in 1999, succeeding the LAV II, and is the primary mechanized infantry vehicle of the Canadian Army and the New Zealand Army. A Caterpillar 3126 diesel engine of 350 horsepower powers it and it can exceed 100 kilometres per hour. Canada is upgrading its vehicles to the LAV 6 standard.