Light keeping ahead of time. (Upgrade Approach).

When looking at upgrading in-service light armoured vehicles (LAV), traditionally, the basic criteria of survivability, mobility and firepower, as is applied to other armoured fighting vehicles, can be taken into account. To this, one can now add the integration of digital communications and battlefield management systems.

Four specific programmes serve as examples of the different ways three nations--the British, French and the Americans--have addressed their problems.

Viewing these nations in reverse order we find the US Marine Corps has begun a Service Life-Extension Program (Slep) under a Product Improvement Program (Pip) for its fleet of 772 LAV-25s. This is a version of the Swiss Mowag Piranha 8 x 8 wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APC) and associated specialised variants, built under licence by the Diesel Division, General Motors of Canada (who now owns Mowag). Versions of this vehicle are also in service with Australia, Canada and Saudi Arabia.

The selection of Metric Systems as prime contractor for the LAV Slep was made in March 2000, with transition to the production phase in May 2002 and with the award of a $17.4 million contract option. This will allow the LAVs to remain in service until 2015, 12 to 15 years beyond their original service life. The actual modifications are to be carried out from Fiscal Years (FY) 2002 to 2009. The initial operational capability of the LAV Slep is planned for FY05.

According to Tom Miller, the US Army's Tank-automotive and Armaments Command team leader for the LAV Slep, there are two distinct elements to the Slep programme: the `Basic Slep' (by Metric) and a second part for an Improved Thermal Sight System (ITSS) to replace the current model with a Gen II. First examples of the Slep should return to service in May 2003 with a new `A1' designation.

The ITSS contract, originally awarded to DRS Technologies, and protested by the losing company, Raytheon, has now been re-competed and re-allocated to Raytheon in October 2002, with an $ 8.2 million contract to develop the ITSS upgrade. This will provide the LAVs with an improved forward-looking infrared sensor, an eye-safe laser rangefinder, an embedded fire control computer, far-target location capability and a moving target indication. Production options cover the upgrade of more than 400 LAV-25s with a potential total contract value of $105 million.

The Mobility Block Improvement Programme converts the current `green' Detroit Diesel 6V-53T engine to the latest `silver' 6V-53T standard. The conversion is carried out through a remanufacture process with only those parts necessary to change the configuration from green to silver being replaced. First conversions have already been made and full operational capability was reached in 1999. Upgrades to the engine include the oil cooler core, blower, governor, oil pump, crank, pulleys, rocker cover and hardware, as well as an improved extraction case for the engine.

Rafael has recently completed the development of a new generation of hybrid add-on armour that combines reactive and passive elements for light fighting behicles. Because such vehicles have a relatively thin hull, the reactive elements must be configured in a way that they cause no damage to the vehicle or its occupants and yet offer effective protection, even against shaped charges. The system, apparently offering the lightest weight/ performance ratio, was demonstrated to the US Army in 2002 and is reported to have defeated rockets like the RPG7. Another development from Rafael is an anti-mine protection for light fighting vehicles and personnel carriers, which consists of sponson and belly armour, floor spall liners and collapsible seats--the latter developed in cooperation with AOB.

In mid-2001, it was revealed that US Marine Corps planners were investigating possible upgrade packages that would increase the lethality of the current LAV-25 armed with the Boeing 25 mm M242 cannon. Consideration is also being given to replacing the current 25 mm M242 cannon with a new 30 mm variant.

Turning to France, although 1994 plans for a full upgrade of the Giat AMX-10RC (6 x 6) armoured car were cancelled, a limited upgrade will now go ahead. The 105 mm F2 gun will be retained and a battle-management system (BMS) or tactical information system (TIS) installed. In 2001, the French Delegation Generale pour l'Armement (DGA) notified Giat of its intention to order a quantity of tactical TIS (French Army designation, Sit-V1). This is a version of Giat's Finders, as used on Leclerc main battle tanks (MBTs) of the United Arab Emirates, that will equip the AMX-10RC. More than 600 vehicles are planned to be retrofitted with the system.

KVH Industries has been sub-contracted by Giat to provide a variant of its Tacnav II land navigation system, a hybrid of its Commercial Off-the-Shelf (Cots) Tacnav, CPS (Continuous Positioning System) and T-Fog systems for the TIS.

This less comprehensive upgrade which is now moving ahead that includes the installation of the Microprocessor Electro-pneumatic Command kit. The turret will be modernised by the installation of the TIS, the Galix combat vehicle protection system, Thales Communications PR4G radio system and, in the future, a laser warning system. Turret ergonomics will also be improved and the existing workload redistributed with the loader now operating the radio.

Giat has also developed an infrared stealth kit for the French Army's AMX-10RC 6 x 6 armoured car that can be fitted at field level.

The French Army's other 6 x 6 wheeled armoured car, the Panhard ERC 90 F4 Sagaie, is being retrofitted with a Mercedes-Benz/MTU four-cylinder 4.2-litre diesel engine, developing 170 hp, coupled to a Renk automatic transmission. The current Giat TS-90 two-man turret, armed with a 90 mm gun and 7.62 mm co-axial machine gun, will be retained and additional spaced-armour added to the front, sides and rear of the turret.

Meanwhile, the British Army's family of Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked), also known as the Scorpion family, light armoured vehicles, designed and produced by Alvis Vehicles, is undergoing a life extension programme. In the fullness of time, some of these vehicles will receive the Bowman communications fit.

The vehicle has been fitted with a new, more fuel-efficient Cummins 6 BTA 5.9 diesel engine. More reliable and durable, it also meets the latest European emission regulations. After conversion, the vehicle is able to run on either diesel or Avtur aviation fuel without adjustment. The existing David Brown Defence Equipment (previously Self-Changing Gears) semi-automatic TN15 transmission is retained with some modifications.

Those Scimitar CVR(T)s used in the close reconnaissance role will receive the new Thales Optronics (formerly Pilkington Optronics) Battle Group--also to be fitted to Alvis Warrior infantry combat vehicles. Those CVR(T)s used in the medium reconnaissance role already have the Spire sighting system.

At the core of Thales Optronics' system are the Catherine-FC (Fire Control) second-generation passive thermal imager and the Stag (Surveillance and Target Acquisition Gunner's)-FC sight. Operating in the eight to twelve-micron waveband, the detection range of the Catherine-FC is 4.5 km on a wide field-of-view (FOV) to 11.5 km with a narrow FOV. Stag-FC offers magnification of x 8 and includes day channels, a laser rangefinder, a charge-coupled device day camera and a stabilised sight head.

Other BGTI features are a new commander's crew station with direct vision optics, a gyro-based navigation subsystem linked to the commander's display, plus a driver's display showing waypoint data.

Why Upgrade Approach?

While the feature articles of Armada International continue to provide in-depth descriptions of state-of-the art systems, our new Upgrade Approach theme provides a fresh look on the latest available systems able to give older or existing equipment a new lease on life. This inaugural article of the series is thus placed in the wake of our feature on tomorrow's light armoured vehicles to reflect on the alternative options, just as the next one will take a similar approach on corvettes and frigates--also the subject of a feature article.