Army's LAVs in for $1B overhaul
Published Thursday July 9th, 2009
OROMOCTO - The workhorse of the Canadian military in Afghanistan is getting an overhaul.
The LAV-3, an eight-wheeled, light armoured vehicle, will get a $1-billion makeover as part of a $5-billion fleet renewal for the Canadian Army.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay made the announcement on Wednesday standing in the so-called "LAV barn" at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown. He was surrounded by several of the imposing armoured vehicles and applauded by about 300 soldiers.
"It's a great day for the Army," Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, chief of land staff, told the troops.
Of the $5 billion, about $1 billion will be spent on upgrading and repairing the LAV-3 fleet. The rest of the money will be spent on vehicles for close combat, reconnaissance and "force mobility enhancement" to carry equipment such as ploughs and building materials.
MacKay said the intent of the massive investment is to make sure Canada's combat troops are protected to the highest degree possible.
He said the face of war for the foreseeable future will continue to involve the deadly, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that have killed so many of Canada's 124 casualties in Afghanistan, including many in LAV-3s.
As well, he said the future of war will involve suicide bombers and "devious and determined insurgencies" that care nothing about the lives of Canadian soldiers.
"We owe it to them to give them the protective equipment to do the job we have asked them to do."
The prime contract for the LAV-3 refurbishment has been awarded to General Dynamics Land Systems in London, Ont., the original manufacturer of the vehicle.
But MacKay and General Dynamics official Tom de Faye are promising that much of the work will be spread across Canada, including to New Brunswick and other Atlantic provinces.
"This work will be done in Canada," de Faye promised of the LAV-3 upgrade.
"Not only will this provide employment for our facilities in London and Edmonton, work also will be shared with our nationwide network of over 400 Canadian suppliers.
"All regions of Canada will benefit from this work, including the latest economically depressed region of southwestern Ontario."
Keith Ashfield, the member of Parliament for Fredericton, said the entire project has the potential to bring more than $300 million in industrial benefits to the Atlantic region.
"There are good opportunities for business in New Brunswick," said Ashfield, who is also the minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
"It could be a number of things.
"There's a company in Miramichi, for instance, that is in the armour-plating business.
"They would be well-positioned to bid on these contracts as a supplier.
"There are opportunities for anyone in the fabrication business and there will be research and development spinoffs."
The first of the new vehicles should be in operation by 2012, with the "fully operational" fleet ready by 2015.
Canada is supposed to end its combat mission in Afghanistan by 2011, so the revitalized combat fleet will not be delivered in time to help with that conflict.
But MacKay said the Conservative government has procured combat vehicles at the most accelerated rate since the Second World War.
"You can't go down to Canadian Tire and buy one of these," he said of the LAV-3s.
"These vehicles are highly specialized and they take time."
He said similar investments in equipment are being planned for the naval and air wings of the Canadian military.
"This is about preparation for our Canadian forces well into the future."
Earlier this year, Leslie warned many of the LAV-3s were worn out or damaged by Canada's participation in the Afghan mission, which started in 2002.
Defence officials say the vehicles have been pounded in Afghanistan.
Leslie said there are typically about 100 LAVs on duty in the war zone at any one time.
Several hundred others are in Canada for use in training.
Leslie told the soldiers at Gagetown that the investment is a reward from the people of Canada for a job well done.
"Trust me, $5.2 billion for the Army is one heck of an indicator of support," he said.
Although agile and quick-handling on roads and solid ground, the army has found LAVs often get stuck in boggy ground along riverbeds where the Taliban have increasingly chosen to stage ambushes.
At the heart of the upgrade will be a high capacity driveline and suspension that will increase the vehicle's payload.
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