LAV-25

LAV-25
The LAV-25 is armed with the M242 25 mm chain gun, and two M240 machine guns
Type	Armored reconnaissance vehicle
Place of origin	Canada
Service history
In service	1983–present
Specifications (standard variant)
Weight	12.80 tonnes (12.60 long tons; 14.11 short tons)
Length	6.39 m (21 ft 0 in)
Width	2.50 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height	2.69 m (8 ft 10 in)
Crew	3+6
Main armament	M242 Bushmaster 25 mm chain gun
Secondary armament	Two M240 7.62 mm machine guns, one mounted co-axially and one pintle-mounted on the roof
Engine	Detroit Diesel 6V53T 275 hp (205 kW)
Power/weight	19.5 hp/sh tn (16.0 kW/t)
Transmission	Allison MT653
Suspension	8×8 wheeled
Operational range	660 km (410 mi)
Speed	100 km/h (62 mph)

The LAV-25 (Light Armored Vehicle) is an eight-wheeled amphibious armored reconnaissance vehicle used by the United States Marine Corps and Canadian Army. It was built by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada and is based on the Swiss MOWAG Piranha I 8×8 family of armored fighting vehicles.

GDLS also makes the LAV III armored vehicle that is based on MOWAG Piranha IIIH 8×8.

During the 1980s, the US Marine Corps began looking for a light armored vehicle to give their divisions greater mobility. They chose the Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) based on the Swiss MOWAG Piranha. It entered service with the Marines in 1983. The U.S. Army was interested in these vehicles at the time, but did not order any (although they did later with introduction of the Stryker family of vehicles). The U.S. Army did, however, borrow at least a dozen LAV-25s for use in the 82nd Airborne's, 73rd Cavalry Regiment for a Scout Platoon during the Gulf War. These LAV-25s were later returned to the Marine Corps after the Gulf War. The USMC ordered 758 vehicles of all variants. LAVs first saw combat during the Invasion of Panama in 1989, and continued service in the Gulf War, Iraq War, and the War in Afghanistan.