In addition to the 25mm chain gun, the turret also contains a 7.62mm machine gun in a co-axial mounting for anti-infantry defense. An additional (and optional) 7.62mm machine gun can be mounted along the turret roof for air-defense duty. Electrically-launched smoke grenade dischargers are provided for a self-defense measure and night vision equipment is available for the driver, gunner and commander positions. The LAV-25 also sports a full amphibious nature.
Power for the vehicle is served through a Detroit Diesel 6V653 diesel-fueled engine developing 275 horsepower. This provides the LAV-25 with a top road speed of 62 miles per hour and operational range of 410 miles, suitable qualities in keep up with the main armored force. The engine is mated to an Allison MT653 series transmission system and suspension is across all wheels in the 8x8 configuration.
Vehicle dimensions include a running length of 19 feet, a width of 8.2 feet and a height to turret top of 8.8 feet. The vehicle can be airlifted by transport helicopter or medium/heavy class fixed-wing transport. The hull features liberal deployment of angled surfaces to provide basic ballistics protection. Road wheels feature independent suspension with four fitted to each hull side.
Variants aplenty where the LAV-25 is concerned. Initial models are designated as LAV-25. The LAV-25A1 is a more modernized form appearing in the late 1990s. The LAV-25A2 is an even more modernized type with improved armor and suspension (among other changes). Key offshoots of these lines then include an anti-tank form (LAV-AT), a mortar-carrying variant (LAV-M) and its proposed successor (LAV-EFSS), an air-defense variant with GAU-12 25mm Gatling gun (LAV-AD), an Armored Recovery Vehicle (ARV) (as the LAV-R), a Command and Control vehicle with increased communications equipment (LAV-C2), the Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System (LAV-MEWSS) and a logistics-minded transport series (LAV-LOG).
The LAV-25 series continues in active service as of March 2014. As it stands, the USMC is looking to replace their aging stocks of LAV-25s with the upcoming Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC) which remains in development. However, delays in the program would see no replacement until sometime in 2020 at the earliest.
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