The Australian Light Armoured Vehicle, ASLAV-25, is a wheeled, eight wheel drive (8x8), amphibious vehicle from the Diesel Division, General Motors (DDGM) of Canada. The one pictured above was under evaluation by the Australian Army for about three years. It must have done its stuff, because the design was adopted by the Australian Army. DDGM contracted British Aerospace Australia (BAeA) to fit-out and finish the ASLAV at its South Australia plant. This included air-conditioning and fitting the widest wheels and tyres to suit Australian conditions.

1996

Wheeled armoured vehicles are attractive compared to tracked vehicles because of their reliability, low maintenance costs and ability to transport themselves quickly over long distances.

Propulsion in the water comes from two neatly mounted propellers, one each side. Top speed afloat is a handy 11kph. The turret is perfectly balanced so it can be traversed and the gun fired while in the water.

There is a tiny rudder behind each propeller and it is hard to credit that these are large enough, although they are directly in the propeller flow. In fact the rudders gain considerable assistance from the front four steering road wheels.

Getting into the water is rarely a problem for an amphibious vehicle but getting out can be altogether more difficult. Partly for this reason, each ASLAV is fitted with a 15,000 lb hydraulic self-recovery winch mounted behind a front hatch — L.A.

1996 ASLAV-25 Light Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle (Type-1), manufacturer's specifications

Armoured amphibian, 3 crew + 6 troops

Loa 6527mm, width 2620mm, height 2692mm

Turning radius 7.75m

Performance: max speed 100kph; afloat 10kph; range 660km

Trench crossing 2m; maximum grade 60%; max side slope 30%

Weight 11,680kg (unladen), combat 13,200kg

Engine Detroit Diesel 6V53T, power 275hp

Transmission Allison MT653 auto transmission, 5 fwd, 1 rev; transfer case 8x8 or 8x4; front four wheels steer; 4 differentials (LSD) + 1 water drive

Afloat 2 propellers, 4 rudders,

Suspension 8 wheel independent

Tyres Michelin XML

Winch 15,000 lb dynamic pull, hydraulic winch, front mounted

Armament (light armoured reconnaissance model)

primary M242 25mm chain gun, with thermal imaging sight

secondary M240 7.62mm machine gun, co-axial to the main gun

supplementary MAG58 7.62mm machine gun, pintle mounting on roof

ancillary two clusters of four 76mm smoke grenade launchers

Armour steel hull protects against small-arms fire, mines, and high-explosive air-bursts at 10m

Also available as:

Type II vehicles

ASLAV-PC personnel carrier, crew of 2 + 7 assault troops

ASLAV-S surveillance vehicle - Army RASIT ground surveillance radar and additional observation equipment, crew of 4 plus 2 troops

ASLAV-C command vehicle - crew of 5 + 2 troops

ASLAV-A ambulance - crew of 3 + up to 6 patients

Type III vehicles

ASLAV-R recovery vehicle, inc. 50,000 lb winch, can tow another ASLAV, crew of 3

ASLAV-F fitters vehicle, inc. crane, crew of 3

Rrp p.o.a. :-)

2012: "The last two Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAVs) serving in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) completed their tour of duty with a range shoot at the Multi National Base - Tarin Kot [Afghanistan] heavy weapons range in November." -- defense.

2018 March 14: The Australian Government selected the 'Boxer CRV' by Rheinmetall (.de) to replace the ASLAV.