Projects

LAND 112 - Australian Light Armoured Vehicle

Current Status Point of Contact

Project Overview

The Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) Program has procured and is upgrading 8x8 wheeled light armoured vehicles. The vehicles are designed to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance activities over large distances with minimal logistic support. The project has progressed in four phases:

• Phase 1. In 1990, 15 Light Armoured Vehicles were procured from the United States Marine Corps for a concept evaluation of wheeled reconnaissance in northern Australia. Phase 1 was completed in 1990.

• Phase 2. In 1992, Defence signed a contract for 113 ASLAVs, ancillary equipment and logistic support. Phase 2 vehicle deliveries to Army were completed on schedule in 1997.

• Phase 3. In 2000, DMO signed a contract for 144 new ASLAVs. Scope for Phase 3 also included the upgrade of Phase 2 vehicles to the Phase 3 build standard, simulation, surveillance and remote weapon stations. Phase 3 vehicle deliveries to Army were completed on schedule in 2004. The details of the remaining project elements under the ASLAV Program are:

• The Crew Procedural Trainer Project has delivered nine high-fidelity containerised simulators.
• The ASLAV-Surveillance Project will deliver up to 18 surveillance suites for integration into ASLAV-Surveillance variants.
• The Behind Armour Commander’s Weapon Station Project has delivered 59 systems for selected ASLAV variants to enable the vehicle crew commanders to operate the weapon system without being exposed to direct fire.
  
  
• Phase 4. Phase 4 is scoped to provide a survivability enhancement of the entire ASLAV fleet. Project background and proposal information is available in the current published Defence Capability Plan.

Current Status

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All 257 vehicles have been delivered to contracted schedule. Standardisation of the Phase 2 fleet to the more evolved Phase 3 build standard is complete. The upgraded vehicle has enhancements to both its offensive capabilities and crew, including new electric turret drives, improved thermal sights, integrated laser range finder, second generation drive line and new suspension components.

Other enhancements include Remote Weapon Stations, which have been accepted into service by Army as the materiel solution for the Behind Armour Commander’s Weapon Station capability. An advanced gunnery simulator, the Crew Procedural Trainer, is in service with Army. In addition, the developmental stage of the Surveillance project is progressing with a rigorous test and evaluation program on the prototype Multi-Spectral Surveillance Suite continuing in 2009.

Phase 4 received first pass approval from Government in late 2006. Design studies and a solicitation activity have been undertaken to further refine the scope and costs of the vehicle survivability upgrade. A Request for Proposal for a Defensive Aide Suite closed in January 2009 and is currently being evaluated. A Systems Design and Development (SDD) activity is planned to be conducted during the period 2009-2011 to investigate options to enhance the survivability and situational awareness of the ASLAV. As part of the SDD activity, prototypes will be developed incorporating the latest levels of survivability and signature management.

Point of Contact

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LAND 112 - Australian Light Armoured Vehicle
Armoured Fighting Vehicle Systems Program Office
Land Manoeuvre Systems Branch
Land Systems Division
Defence Materiel Organisation
Victoria Barracks Melbourne
256-310 St Kilda Road
SOUTHBANK VIC 3006
Australia

Program Manager
Telephone: +61 3 9282 6322
Facsimile:  +61 3 9282 4298

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Last updated: May 2009