The LAV III Kodiak armored personnel carrier entered service with Canadian Army in 1999
Channel: Main Battle Tank
Date: 2023-05-29

The LAV III Kodiak armored personnel carrier is a license produced version of Swiss MOWAG Piranha IIIH. Vehicle is produced by General Motors Land Systems. It entered service with the Canadian Army in 1999. At some point Canadian Army operated 651 of these armored vehicles in various versions. The LAV III was the primary Canadian mechanized infantry vehicle, which replaced the M113 and other vehicles. It formed the backbone of the Canadian armored vehicle fleet. Since 2011 Canadian Army signed contracts to upgrade 616 of its LAV III vehicles to a LAV 6.0 standard. Deliveries reportedly commenced in 2015 and are planned to be completed in 2017. Export operators of the LAV III are USA and New Zealand. The US Army uses a modified variant, called Stryker, which is fitted with remote weapon station in place of the turret.