The Marines have awarded a $24 million contract for 13 Light Armored Vehicles (LAV-A2) from General Dynamics [GD] Land Systems-Canada.
The LAV-A2 is a mobile, survivable and lethal system for conducting a variety of functions including security, reconnaissance, offensive and defensive operations as part of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force.
The eight-wheeled vehicle operates on land and water and has enhanced armor protection and an automatic fire-suppression system for crew protection, as well as a robust suspension for mobility.
The vehicles will be produced at the General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada operations in London, Ontario, with the existing workforce. The first delivery is scheduled for June 2014 and the last delivery will be made in October 2014.
Since 2007, the Marines have ordered 253 LAV-A2 vehicles. More than 800 units of an earlier version of the Light Armored Vehicle entered service with the Marine Corps in the 1980s and continue operational deployment today.
The contract was awarded through the Canadian Commercial Corporation, a Crown Agency of the Canadian Government.