How a combat upgrade transformed a damaged fleet into the LAV 6

Wars & Conflicts · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: After heavy use in Afghanistan, many of Canada's light armoured vehicles were out of service. To fix this, the military launched a massive upgrade program to bolster protection against roadside bombs, eventually evolving the aging LAV III into the modern, multi-role LAV 6 family.

The transition to the LAV 6 was driven by necessity following operations in Afghanistan. During that mission, the Canadian Army lost over 34 vehicles and saw 359 others damaged, with 13 LAVs and more than 159 vehicles specifically damaged by enemy fire or roadside bombs. Such losses rendered roughly one third of the Army's light armoured fleet unusable, leading to a $5 billion July 2009 pledge to fix, modernize, and renew the stock.

A significant portion of this investment focused on the LAV III upgrade program (LAVUP). General Dynamics Land Systems secured a $1.1 billion deal in October 2011 for the upgrading of 550 LAV III combat vehicles. These upgrades were essential for improving protection against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and mines, while also boosting troop mobility. The modifications included a more powerful engine, increased armour, and improved steering and brake systems. This increased the vehicle's weight from 17,000 kg to 25,000 kg.

The program eventually led to the deployment of the LAV 6, which entered service in 2016. The family includes various specialized roles, such as the Infantry Section Carrier (ISC) and the Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV). The ACSV series is designed to replace older Bison and M113 fleets, offering eight variants including ambulances, command posts, and engineering vehicles. While the program has seen success, it has also faced controversy, such as the $15 billion export deal to Saudi Arabia, which faced criticism regarding human rights and the Yemeni Civil War.

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