Komatsu LAV | |
|---|---|
| Country | Japan |
| Role | Armoured Scout Car |
| Produced | 1997-2019 |
| Built | 1937 |
The Komatsu light armored vehicle is a Japanese military vehicle first produced in 2002. Currently used exclusively by the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF), it has seen use in the Iraq War. It is built by Komatsu Ltd. Defense Systems Division in Komatsu, Ishikawa, Japan. Komatsu’s factory designator for the vehicle is KU50W. The exterior resembles the Panhard VBL, used by the French army, but the LAV has 4 doors and a large cabin for carrying soldiers. The LAV can also be transported by air in vehicles like the CH-47J and the C-130H.
Source: Komatsu LAV on Wikipedia
| Komatsu LAV (Light Armored Vehicle) Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographers | Mark Clanton |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 35 |
See also:
General Characteristics
The Komatsu LAV (Japanese: 軽装甲機動車, *Kei-sōkō-kidōsha*) is a Japanese 4×4 light armoured vehicle designed to provide the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) with a modern vehicle for frontline reconnaissance, security, and troop transport. Its development, based on a heavily modified Toyota Mega Cruiser chassis, began in the late 1990s, and it entered service in 2002. It resembles the French Panhard VBL but is not related.
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Role | Armoured Scout Car / Light Transport |
| Manufacturer | Komatsu Ltd. |
| In Service | 2002–Present |
| No. Built | ~1,937 (as of 2016) |
| Crew Capacity | 4 (Driver, Gunner, plus 2 troops) or 5 (with a dedicated gunner) |
| Mass (Weight) | 4,500 kg (9,921 lb) |
| Length | 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) |
| Width | 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) |
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
Powerplant and Mobility
- Engine: Isuzu 4-cylinder, liquid-cooled diesel engine.
- Engine Power: 119 kW (160 hp).
- Drive: 4×4 wheeled configuration.
- Maximum Speed (Road): 100 km/h (62 mph).
- Operational Range: Approximately 500 km (310 mi).
- Features: Fitted with run-flat tires and is light enough to be transported by air in vehicles like the CH-47J helicopter or C-130H transport aircraft.
Armament and Protection
- Primary Armament (Typically roof-mounted):
- Sumitomo 5.56 mm M249 Light Machine Gun (LMG) OR
- Sumitomo 12.7 mm M2HB Heavy Machine Gun (HMG)
- Anti-Armour Armament: Can be mounted with a Type 01 LMAT (Light Anti-Tank Missile) or a Kawasaki Type 87 anti-tank missile.
- Protection: Welded steel armour construction with reinforced bulletproof windshields. Designed to protect the crew against small arms fire (e.g., 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm rifle rounds) and shell splinters.
- Other Protection: Some variants, particularly those deployed overseas (e.g., in Iraq), are fitted with additional armour plating, wire cutters, and an armoured shield around the gun mount. Smoke grenade dischargers can be mounted on the rear.
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