- Reaction score
- 33
- Points
- 560
The real answer is probably a little of "A" and a little of "B".
There is no question we need more AFV's in the here and now, to top up battlefield casualties, replace worn out equipment and to build to fleet to the point we are not constantly shuffling the deck. Certainly we can improve upon what we already have, MCG has pointed out various product improvements that can be made to the LAVIII family, and adopting product improved LAV's is certainly fast, easy to accomodate through the system (training, logistics etc), and not too far out of line with our allies capabilities. The US uses the Stryker and LAV 25 (both close relatives to the LAV III), and the British FRES project is trialling the MOWAG LAV, BOXER and one other vehicle which are pretty similar to the LAV III as well.
MCG's point about FFCV makes sense, but I'm afraid the need for AFV's is too pressing now to wait, and like some others, I suspect that the advanced features desired on FFCV, FRES and FCS will put them farther into the future than we will like. In the Canadian context the FFCV could be introduced as the LAV III is on its last legs or rushed into service full of teething problems in a mad scramble to meet an urgent operational need.
Given much of what these programs promise revolve around the electronic systems rather than the hulls, I really think the best way is flowing through with LAV III+ to top up the fleet,continue building LAV 3.5 to get enough vehicles to be where we really want to be, then introduce the computer systems and electronic bits in an incrimental fashion while transformational hull technologies are developed.
There is no question we need more AFV's in the here and now, to top up battlefield casualties, replace worn out equipment and to build to fleet to the point we are not constantly shuffling the deck. Certainly we can improve upon what we already have, MCG has pointed out various product improvements that can be made to the LAVIII family, and adopting product improved LAV's is certainly fast, easy to accomodate through the system (training, logistics etc), and not too far out of line with our allies capabilities. The US uses the Stryker and LAV 25 (both close relatives to the LAV III), and the British FRES project is trialling the MOWAG LAV, BOXER and one other vehicle which are pretty similar to the LAV III as well.
MCG's point about FFCV makes sense, but I'm afraid the need for AFV's is too pressing now to wait, and like some others, I suspect that the advanced features desired on FFCV, FRES and FCS will put them farther into the future than we will like. In the Canadian context the FFCV could be introduced as the LAV III is on its last legs or rushed into service full of teething problems in a mad scramble to meet an urgent operational need.
Given much of what these programs promise revolve around the electronic systems rather than the hulls, I really think the best way is flowing through with LAV III+ to top up the fleet,continue building LAV 3.5 to get enough vehicles to be where we really want to be, then introduce the computer systems and electronic bits in an incrimental fashion while transformational hull technologies are developed.
