Preserving capacity, General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, Keys to Canadian SAR
Issue link: http://vanguardcanada.uberflip.com/i/122908
Land Systems L Nexter Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie (VBCI). Photo: French Army Although the upgraded LAVs will offer considerably more protection in a heavier frame, the decision of the Canadian Army, supported by the government, to pursue the Close Combat Vehicle program suggests something more is needed. Under the CCV program, the government will buy 108 of these vehicles (with an option for 30 more) to accompany the army's main battle tank, the Leopard 2, into a combat zone. For soldiers, these new vehicles are the next generation of infantry fighting vehicles, providing higher levels of protection with the latest battlefield communications technology, firepower and mobility. So who are the contenders? One is the French company Nexter and its Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie (VBCI). The vehicle entered service with the French Army in 2008 and has seen action in Afghanistan, Lebanon and more recently Mali. As an 8 X 8 wheeled vehicle, it is most probably less expensive to buy and operate than a tracked competitor. Its 25 mm gun fires 400 rounds per minute and it has a 750 km range and can hit speeds of 100 kilometers per hour. Another strong contender is the Swedish CV9035 MKIII, de- wounded in action. It is probably reasonable to extrapolate that the cause of injury for hundreds of the wounded was also explosives or IEDs. The IED problem is clearly a function of the asymmetrical warfare experienced in Afghanistan. The Taliban do not have artillery, aircraft, tanks and armoured vehicles. But what they do have is light weapons, the ubiquitous AK-47s, rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) and, it would appear, a virtually limitless supply of various types of explosives. Further, the profusion of cell phones has given them excellent communications channels, which when properly rigged, can also trigger explosive devices. And their cell phones can capture images of exploding vehicles, which are then posted on YouTube within hours, if not minutes. So how to solve the IED problem? Better detection is one method, with emerging technologies such as new types of ground penetrating radar. However, building better armoured vehicles offers one of the more obvious solutions. While the LAV III performed exceptionally well, it was never designed to take the explosive impact it received in Afghanistan. The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario supports southern Ontario's businesses and communities. Visit our website to see how we are helping to create jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity. L'Agence fédérale de développement économique pour le Sud de l'Ontario soutient les entreprises et les collectivités du Sud de l'Ontario. Consultez notre site Web pour voir de quelle manière nous aidons à créer des emplois et aidons à favoriser la croissance économique et la prospérité à long terme. www.FedDevOntario.gc.ca www.vanguardcanada.com APRIL/MAY 2013 31