ASLAV/LAV III commonality - issues for Australia/NZ combined operations

An opportunity to seek genuine logistic synergies between the armoured vehicle fleets of two close allies has been lost, but for the best reasons; nevertheless, some significant synergies remain.
While the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is slated to have the bulk of its air combat force deleted from the order of battle and naval prowess centred around just two Anzac-class frigates, the New Zealand Army is finally nearing the point where it will be able to make a tangible contribution to the type of military contingencies in which the NZDF is most likely to become involved.

The New Zealand Ministry of Defence has already signed a contract with General Motors Defence (GMD) for the supply of 105 LAV III 8x8 infantry mobility and fire support vehicles. The subsequent retirement of the army's M-113A1 family of vehicles is to be lamented only with regard to the demise of the tracked armoured capability.

However, the LAV III too is well suited to operating both across most parts of New Zealand and throughout areas in the region accessible by road or track. The Australian Army's 2nd Cavalry Regiment's ASLAVs have performed consistently well in East Timor during both the wet and dry seasons, bearing in mind these vehicles operated in the armoured personnel carrier (APC) and cavalry roles, rather than the fundamentally different infantry fighting vehicle role.

For the two infantry battalions earmarked to field the new LAV III, the vehicles will deliver a quantum leap in capability in all areas other than mobility over difficult terrain: improved firepower, higher ballistic protection, better habitability and crew survivability, faster tactical response time; and greater strategic deployability, particularly self-deployability.

On the surface, the LAV III acquisition by New Zealand and the expansion of Australia's ASLAV fleet via Phase 3 of Project Land 112 appear to augur well for a high level of commonality between the two forces with respect to their 8x8 armoured vehicle fleets. However, while the casual observer is inclined to see both vehicle types as simply "Lavs", the notion that New Zealand followed Australia's lead and merely purchased a later version of the ASLAV is mistaken.

Given that the ASLAV and LAV III are not quite identical twins - indeed, it could be argued that the two vehicles are only barely related - it is worth examining the implications for Australian and New Zealand industry contracted to provide logistics support for these vehicles in their respective homelands and during active service abroad.

Firstly, it should be acknowledged that both vehicles have been acquired to fulfill different roles. For the Australian Army, the ASLAV operates in the cavalry role. New Zealand Army LAV IIIs will be used in the infantry mobility role and direct fire support role.

Nonetheless, it could be envisaged that ASLAV and LAV III-equipped units might operate in the same operation, certainly in the same area of operations and quite possibly in close proximity to one another. In ty
As an aside, the ASLAV is fully amphibious, while it is understood New Zealand's LAV III is not. The disparate armoured protection levels of the two vehicles could force operational restrictions where the LAV III would be impervious to certain threats but where the vulnerability of the ASLAV (with its lower protection levels) would be increased to perhaps unacceptable levels. ASLAV's armoured protection can be increased through the fitting of add-on armour kits, but only at the expense of its amphibious capability.

Given such close co-operation and interaction, the provision of field support for engines and transmissions would naturally be complicated by virtue of the fact that the ASLAV is powered by the 275hp Detroit Diesel 6V53T Silver diesel engine, and the LAV III the 350hp Caterpillar 3126 ATAAC turbo-charged diesel. Being different makes of engines, there is virtually zero parts commonality between the two. Transmission type for the ASLAV is the Allison MT 653DR 5-speed automatic, with the LAV II using the Allison MD 3066 6-speed automatic. Again, no significant commonality.

There would, therefore, be no scope for streamlining ASLAV/LAV III operational and deeper level maintenance and medium repair during joint operations. According to GMD Australia (GMDA), neither the Australian Army nor the New Zealand Army has the capability nor the capacity to maintain their ASLAV and LAV III fleets respectively; each is/will be dependent upon contractor-based support to undertake such work. As such, ASLAV contractors would not be familiar with working on the LAV III powerplant, and New Zealand contractors would have no experience with the ASLAV's Detroit Diesel.

Engine incompatibility would require deployment of separate logistic support providers and elements, as LAV III could not tap in to the ASLAV nationwide service network, nor could the ASLAV into Caterpillar-oriented LAV III service centres in New Zealand. Curiously, New Zealand's LAV III has more engine commonality with Australia's Caterpillar-powered Bushmaster infantry mobility vehicle (slightly more powerful version of the same engine) than with ASLAV.

With regard to major vehicle consumables, the 16-inch wheels of the ASLAV are smaller than those fitted to the heavier LAV III (20-inch). This will not permit the "pooling" of wheels and tyres during operations to simplify remote resupply. The coil spring suspension of the ASLAV has little commonality with the LAV III suspension based on late generation hydro-pneumatic technology. Essentially, only the first two (steered) wheel stations are common to both vehicles.

ADM understands that while each vehicle type can accept the same communications equipment, few real efforts have been made to achieve commonality in this area. It appears, therefore, that each type will carry a different communications fit. This has implications for both the level of communications interoperability and the simplifying of repair and maintenance that can be achieved during joint training and operations. While details regarding the communications equipment to be fitted to New Zealand LAV IIIs are unavailable, it is unlikely that ASLAV/LAV III crews will be able to swap radio sets or parts - a common practice amongst ASLAV crews - when a vehicle's communications system goes 'off the air'.

The LAV-25 turret of both the ASLAV (Phase 3) and LAV III (minus the latter's additional applique armour panels) will be manufactured at GMD Australia's new facility at Pooraka, South Australia. Prospects exist for New Zealand to source its 25mm ammunition from Australia, which is already being manufactured by ADI Limited at its Benalla plant to service the Australian Army's needs. The M242 Bushmaster I 25mm chain gun is identical in both vehicles, as is the M240 7.62mm co-axial machine gun. Gunner sights and periscopes have a high degree of commonality.

By Ian Bostock, Sydney