The project to incorporate the future Wheeled Armored Combat Vehicle (VCBR) into the Argentine Army is one of the key high-priority projects currently being worked on by the Ministry of Defense. Although in recent years, negotiations for the VCBR from the Iveco Guaraní family were a step ahead of other candidates, with the new administration, the LAV III Stryker family of armored vehicles is back under consideration, along with other competitors.
According to sources consulted by Zona Militar, one of the most striking points of this offer includes the incorporation of an initial batch of eight (8) LAV III VCBRs from New Zealand. These would be part of the first batch of a more ambitious plan, with the primary objective for the Argentine Army being to start developing doctrine with these vehicles, and then move towards a larger batch of about forty (40) Stryker units.
Regarding the LAV III, it is a model on which the Stryker was developed. It serves in the Canadian Army (under the designation LAV 6.0, previously known as LAV III after undergoing the Light Armoured Vehicle III Upgrade modernization). This model has also been exported to New Zealand under the designation NZLAV.
The first NZLAVs were exported in 2003 to replace New Zealand’s M113s, incorporating some unique systems such as a new tactical navigation system, laser rangefinder, and supplementary equipment including laser warning receivers, GID-3 chemical agent detection kits, among others.
New Zealand acquired 105 LAV IIIs, 102 in their IFV variant armed with a 25mm Bushmaster cannon, and three recovery vehicles. With an initial service life of 25 years, the original fleet was reduced to 74 vehicles after one NZLAV was destroyed in Afghanistan, 22 were sold to the Chilean Navy, and eight armored vehicles remain available for sale, matching the number proposed for Argentina.
According to the current work plan, with the development of capabilities in the use of the LAV III, the Argentine Army aims to advance towards a batch of up to 207 units, intending to equip different units with the concept of a family of armored vehicles, although further details about the versions of interest have not been provided.
It is worth noting that this plan has considerable financing and support from the United States, with the idea of advancing a systematic plan similar to the one that ended with the acquisition of F-16s by the Argentine Air Force, in line with the current re-equipment projects of the Ministry of Defense.
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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