The LAV 6.0 is Canada's upgraded 8x8 Light Armoured Vehicle family, built by General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada from the LAV III upgrade program. The infantry section carrier keeps a 25 mm M242 turret but adds a 450 hp powerpack, stronger mobility package, add-on armour, and improved protection. Canada describes it as the Canadian Army's primary infantry fighting vehicle, while 2026 government reporting tied 66 former LRSS reconnaissance LAV 6.0 vehicles to planned military aid for Ukraine during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.
Canada's February 2026 Ukraine-support announcement listed a donation of more than 400 armoured vehicles for Ukraine, including 66 General Dynamics Light Armoured Vehicles 6; a 2026-27 capital-project report identified the vehicles as former LRSS LAV 6.0 reconnaissance platforms planned for donation.
Role detailsCanada's Ukraine announcement identifies 66 General Dynamics Light Armoured Vehicles 6 in the armoured-vehicle aid package. Separate Canadian project reporting narrows the origin of that set: the LRSS project was intended to integrate surveillance systems into 66 LAV 6.0 chassis, reached first vehicle delivery in August 2023, and was later set for de-scoping with a planned donation of former LRSS LAV 6.0 vehicles to Ukraine.
The LRSS project centered on 66 LAV 6.0 chassis for reconnaissance vehicles rather than the baseline infantry section carrier fleet.
Sources: Canada LRSS Capital Project Report; Canada LRSS Supplementary Estimates.
The cited Canadian sources support announced or planned donation to Ukraine, not confirmed delivery dates or battlefield employment for these 66 vehicles.
Source: Canada 2026 Ukraine support announcement.
The LAV 6.0 record is centered on the Canadian LAV III Upgrade fleet rather than the separate turretless ACSV support-vehicle procurement. Canadian Army pages describe the upgrade as a primary infantry fighting vehicle with the familiar 25 mm turret, while General Dynamics emphasizes protection, mobility, and fleet commonality.
General Dynamics says the LAV III Upgrade delivered the LAV 6.0 configuration with a double-V hull, protection improvements, vetronics, and growth capacity.
Source: General Dynamics LAVUP announcement.
Canada lists a 450 hp turbocharged diesel engine, seven-speed automatic transmission, selectable four- or eight-wheel drive, 100 km/h highway speed, and 600 km highway range for the LAV 6.0 ISC.
Source: Canadian Army LAV 6.0.
The Canadian Army describes LAV 6.0 as its primary infantry fighting vehicle; the procurement record says the upgraded fleet was accepted for deployment in 2016 and completed in 2019.
Sources: Canadian Army LAV 6.0; Canada LAV III Upgrade Project.
Canadian Army and procurement pages describe LAV 6.0 as the LAV III Upgrade family, with the infantry section carrier specification as the main published baseline, several mission variants inside the upgraded fleet, and a LAV 6.0 RECCE surveillance branch under the LRSS project.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Infantry Section Carrier | Primary Canadian Army infantry fighting vehicle | Canada's LAV 6.0 equipment page publishes the ISC specification, including the M242 25 mm cannon, three-person vehicle crew, seven passengers, and add-on armour capability. Sources: Canadian Army LAV 6.0 |
| Command Post Vehicle | Command-and-control variant | Canada's LAVUP project page lists command post vehicles as one of the upgraded LAV III/LAV 6.0 variants. Sources: Canada LAV III Upgrade Project |
| Engineer Vehicle | Combat-engineer support variant | Engineer vehicles are listed by Canada as part of the upgraded LAVUP variant set. Sources: Canada LAV III Upgrade Project |
 | Reconnaissance-surveillance variant | Canada amended the LAVUP contract in 2012 to upgrade 66 additional LAV III vehicles for the LAV Reconnaissance Surveillance System project; later project reporting described 66 LAV 6.0 chassis intended for reconnaissance platforms with advanced surveillance systems. Sources: Canada LAV III Upgrade Project, Canada LRSS Capital Project Report, Canada LRSS Supplementary Estimates |
| Observation Post Vehicle | Observation and fire-support coordination variant | Observation post vehicles are included in Canada's official LAVUP variant list. Sources: Canada LAV III Upgrade Project |
 | Turretless armoured combat support vehicle branch | General Dynamics describes the ACSV as a modern multirole support vehicle based on the LAV 6.0 platform and sharing its mobility, protection, and modularity features. Sources: GDLS LAV family |
The LAV 6.0 infantry section carrier keeps the 25 mm Bushmaster cannon as its primary turret weapon.
| Carried item | Item type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 25 mm chain gun | The Canadian Army LAV 6.0 equipment page lists the M242 25 mm Bushmaster cannon among the vehicle's weapons. Sources: Canadian Army LAV 6.0 |
The LAV 6.0 page sits between the original LAV III, the later ACSV support branch, and the LAV 6.0 RECCE surveillance branch in the catalog.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Earlier Canadian LAV family baseline | Canada's LAVUP project describes the upgrade of LAV III vehicles into the improved configuration that became LAV 6.0. Sources: Canada LAV III Upgrade Project |
| LAV 6.0 support-vehicle branch | General Dynamics describes the ACSV as based on the LAV 6.0 platform and sharing its mobility, protection, and modularity features. Sources: GDLS LAV family |
| LAV 6.0 reconnaissance-surveillance branch | Canadian LRSS reporting describes 66 LAV 6.0 chassis intended for reconnaissance platforms with advanced surveillance systems. Sources: Canada LRSS Capital Project Report, Canada LRSS Supplementary Estimates |
Canada announced the LAV III Upgrade project that became the LAV 6.0 configuration.
Sources: Canada LAV III Upgrade Project
Canada awarded General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada a sole-source contract to upgrade 550 LAV III vehicles.
Sources: Canada LAV III Upgrade Project
Canada's LAVUP project page records delivery of the first upgraded LAV III vehicles in London, Ontario.
Sources: Canada LAV III Upgrade Project
The Commander of the Canadian Army accepted the upgraded LAV III as the Canadian Army's deployable LAV fleet.
Sources: Canada LAV III Upgrade Project
General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada delivered the final vehicle in the LAV III Upgrade project.
Sources: Canada LAV III Upgrade Project
Canada's 2026-27 project report says the LAV Reconnaissance Surveillance System project achieved first vehicle delivery in August 2023 after production began in November 2020.
Sources: Canada LRSS Capital Project Report
A Canadian government release marking four years of the full-scale invasion announced an armoured-vehicle donation for Ukraine that included 66 General Dynamics Light Armoured Vehicles 6; later project reporting characterized them as former LRSS LAV 6.0 vehicles planned for donation.
Sources: Canada 2026 Ukraine support announcement, Canada LRSS Capital Project Report
