Admin of the Month Mar 2015
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The ASLAV has an eight-wheeled configuration (capable of either four or eight wheel drive), is amphibious and has a range of 600 km with a top road speed of 120 km/h. The vehicle has excellent battlefield mobility, as all wheels are equipped with a solid-core secondary run-flat tyre next to the hub, allowing the vehicle to function even with eight flat tyres.
Phase 3 improvements include a laser range finder, the latest generation thermal imager, 24 V DC electric drive for the turret and improved suspension for the hull.
The heat of northern Australia poses special problems for armoured vehicle crews with interior temperatures reaching 55 °C (131 °F). The ASLAV Type II is fitted with air-conditioning that reduces temperatures to outside levels. Increasing the versatility of the ASLAV even more is the use of non-permanent Mission Role Installation Kits (MRIKs) to generate several variants from a single hull design. This is a unique Australian modification and much of the design and development work was done in Australia.[citation needed]
Operational service[edit]
ASLAVs have seen operational service with the Australian Army in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Variants[edit]
By using the abovementioned MRIKs and the three different hull types of the ASLAV, the Australian Army has at its disposal the following variants:
ASLAV Type I[edit]
ASLAV Type II[edit]
ASLAV Type III[edit]
Phase 3 improvements include a laser range finder, the latest generation thermal imager, 24 V DC electric drive for the turret and improved suspension for the hull.
The heat of northern Australia poses special problems for armoured vehicle crews with interior temperatures reaching 55 °C (131 °F). The ASLAV Type II is fitted with air-conditioning that reduces temperatures to outside levels. Increasing the versatility of the ASLAV even more is the use of non-permanent Mission Role Installation Kits (MRIKs) to generate several variants from a single hull design. This is a unique Australian modification and much of the design and development work was done in Australia.[citation needed]
Operational service[edit]
ASLAVs have seen operational service with the Australian Army in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Variants[edit]
By using the abovementioned MRIKs and the three different hull types of the ASLAV, the Australian Army has at its disposal the following variants:
ASLAV Type I[edit]
- ASLAV-25 (Reconnaissance) - A three-man reconnaissance vehicle armed with an M242 dual-feed 25 mm Bushmaster cannon and two 7.62 mm FN MAG 58 machine guns. Similar to the LAV-25.
ASLAV Type II[edit]
- ASLAV-PC (Personnel Carrier) - A two-man vehicle armed with a .50 BMG M2 machine gun and capable of carrying 7 scout troops. The standard machine gun pintle mount is replaced by a Kongsberg Protector remote weapon station (RWS) which can accommodate either a 12.7 mm machine gun or a Mk 19 40mm automatic grenade launcher. Based on the Canadian Bison.
- ASLAV-C (Command) - A vehicle equipped with enhanced radio installation and radio masts, mapboard, stowage compartments, appropriate seating and annex. Armed with a single .50 calibre BMG M2 machine gun, although vehicles on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have been fitted with the Kongsberg Protector RWS.
- ASLAV-S (Surveillance) - A specialised surveillance vehicle equipped with thermal imager, laser range finder, day television camera and battlefield surveillance radar RASIT or AMSTAR on a hydraulic mast. Armed with a single .50 BMG M2 machine gun.
- ASLAV-A (Ambulance) - Equipped with medical equipment and litter stations this ASLAV can carry three lying patients or six sitting patients. Armed with a single .50 BMG M2 machine gun.
ASLAV Type III[edit]
- ASLAV-F (Fitter) - Maintenance support vehicle with HIAB 650 crane, crewed by soldiers of the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME) for the repair and maintenance of ASLAV vehicles. Armed with a single 7.62 FN MAG 58 machine gun. ASLAV-F vehicles are fitted with the Kongsberg Protector RWS in Afghanistan.
- ASLAV-R (Recovery) - Maintenance support vehicle with recovery winch, also crewed by RAEME soldiers for recovering damaged or bogged vehicles. Armed with a single 7.62 FN MAG 58 machine gun. ASLAV-R vehicles are fitted with the Konnsberg Protector RWS in Afghanistan.
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