Armored Vehicles

LAV-AT

Also known as
  • Light Armored Vehicle-Anti-Tank
  • Light Armored Vehicle, Antitank
  • LAV-ATM
  • LAV Anti-Tank Modernization
  • LAV-ATWS
  • Anti-Tank Weapon System
  • ATWS

The LAV-AT is a Canadian-built 8x8 light armored anti-tank vehicle for the U.S. Marine Corps, pairing the LAV family chassis with a TOW missile launcher for protected long-range anti-armor fire. Marine Corps history documents LAV-ATs at the Battle of al-Khafji in the 1990 Gulf War, while later modernization replaced the legacy turret with the Anti-Tank Weapon System.

LAV-AT, Light armored anti-tank vehicle, Armored Vehicles
Image source: File:LAV-AT.jpg

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Canada
Type
Light armored anti-tank vehicle
Service note
1987-present
Unit cost
$1,252,000
Produced
1987-2003
Number built
115 accepted by 2003

Specifications

Crew
4
Armament
Twin TOW missile launcher; M60 or M240E1 7.62 mm machine gun; smoke grenade launchers
Weight
27,650 lb (12,540 kg) combat weight
Mobility
275 hp Detroit Diesel 6V53T; 62 mph road speed; 410 mi range; air transportable by C-130, C-141, C-5, and CH-53E
Protection
Rolled hard homogeneous steel hull; fully amphibious within about 3 minutes
Anti-Armor Role

The LAV-AT gives light armored reconnaissance units a protected missile carrier that can move with LAV companies while covering them with long-range anti-armor fire.

LAR firepower

Marine Corps doctrine states that the LAR battalion's organic tank-defeating capability rests with the LAV-AT.

Legacy sight and missile

The legacy vehicle combined the AN/TAS-4 thermal sight with TOW missiles for reduced-visibility tank engagements out to the TOW's 3,750 m range.

Modernized ATWS

The LAV-ATM upgrade introduced an unmanned turret, improved thermal sighting, far-target location, commander/gunner video displays, and electric elevation and azimuth drives.

Variants

The page covers the legacy LAV-AT and its modernized LAV-ATM/ATWS configuration, both built around a TOW missile role on the LAV family chassis.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
LAV-ATM / ATWSModernized anti-tank weapon system

The modernization program replaced the legacy turret with an unmanned ATWS able to fire wire-guided and radio-frequency TOW missiles, adding improved thermal sighting, far-target location, video displays, and electric drive.

Sources: Program Office Begins Fielding Upgraded LAV Anti-Tank Weapon System, LAV-ATM FY2015 DOT&E Annual Report

Launched Missiles

The LAV-AT mounts the Marine Corps Anti-Tank Weapon System for protected TOW missile fire.

Launched itemItem typeLaunch evidence
BGM-71 TOW, Heavy anti-tank guided missile, Infantry WeaponsBGM-71 TOWAnti-tank guided missile

Marine Corps Systems Command describes the LAV-AT Anti-Tank Weapon System as firing TOW missiles for long-range stand-off anti-armor fire support to Light Armored Reconnaissance units.

Sources: LAV Anti-Tank Weapon System to Reach FOC by End of 2019

Timeline

LAV-AT Key Events

  1. Battle of al-Khafji employment

    Marine Corps history places seven LAV-ATs with Company D at Observation Post 4 and describes a LAV-AT firing a TOW missile during the night fight.

  2. Operational assessment begins

    DOT&E reported that MCOTEA began a LAV-ATM operational assessment with two pre-Milestone C prototypes and operational Marines from 1st Marine Division.

  3. Initial fielding reported

    Marine Corps Systems Command reported that the LAV-AT Modernization program had completed its first fielding of four upgraded ATWS vehicles to 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Marines.

  4. Full operational capability update

    A Marine Corps update said full operational capability was expected by the end of fiscal year 2019, with 58 upgraded systems in active-fleet service and 91 of 106 contracted kits delivered.

Media

LAV-AT Videos

LAV-AT Images

LAV-AT, Light armored anti-tank vehicle, Armored Vehicles - view 1
Source: File:LAV-AT, LAV-25, 5t Marine Regiment, Cobra Gold 1997.jpg
LAV-AT, Light armored anti-tank vehicle, Armored Vehicles - view 2
Source: File:LAV-AT.jpg
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Sources

LAV-AT - Weaponsystems.netPublisher: Weaponsystems.net | Note: Supports LAV-AT background, Canadian development context, US Marine Corps adoption, and the vehicle's anti-tank role. | Accessed: 2026-06-27LAV-AT: AFV DatabasePublisher: AFV Database | Note: Supports LAV-AT manufacturer, acceptance date, crew, dimensions, armament, automotive data, and unit count snapshot. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Light Armored Vehicle-Anti-Tank (LAV-AT)Publisher: Federation of American Scientists | Note: Supports LAV-AT air transportability, amphibious capability, TOW loadout, Marine Corps inventory snapshot, and unit replacement cost. | Accessed: 2026-06-27File:LAV-AT.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing source for the primary LAV-AT image. | Accessed: 2026-06-27File:LAV-AT, LAV-25, 5t Marine Regiment, Cobra Gold 1997.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing source for the gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-27U.S. Marines in Battle Al-KhafjiPublisher: U.S. Marine Corps History Division | Note: Directly supports LAV-AT use by U.S. Marine Corps forces in the 1990 Gulf War, including attached LAV-ATs at Observation Post 4 and a TOW missile fired during the battle. | Accessed: 2026-07-02MCWP 3-14 Employment of the Light Armored Reconnaissance BattalionPublisher: U.S. Marine Corps | Note: Supports LAV-AT role, TOW range, AN/TAS-4 thermal sight context, LAV mobility, transportability, and LAR battalion employment doctrine. | Accessed: 2026-07-02LAV-ATM FY2015 DOT&E Annual ReportPublisher: Director, Operational Test and Evaluation | Note: Supports LAV-ATM prototype operational assessment, mission role, live TOW firing test, turret reliability, and modernization capabilities. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Program Office Begins Fielding Upgraded LAV Anti-Tank Weapon SystemPublisher: Marine Corps Systems Command | Note: Supports LAV-ATM program establishment, 2017 initial operational capability, ATWS fielding, and upgraded turret features. | Accessed: 2026-07-02LAV Anti-Tank Weapon System to Reach FOC by End of 2019Publisher: United States Marine Corps | Note: Supports ATWS fielding status, TOW firing role, long-range stand-off anti-armor support, active-fleet count, contracted kit deliveries, and fiscal 2019 full operational capability expectation. | Accessed: 2026-07-022nd LAR Battalion LAV-AT Live Fire Training ImagePublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Public-domain image provenance for the gallery photo of a 2nd LAR Battalion LAV-AT live-fire training event. | Accessed: 2026-07-02