Bison (armoured personnel carrier)


The LAV II Bison is an armoured personnel carrier based on the 8x8 LAV-25 platform, and was produced by General Motors Diesel Division in London, Ontario. They were purchased and intended for operation by the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve, but were rapidly appropriated by the regular force of the Canadian Army.

Design

By starting with a basic LAV-25, the Bison design process took only 7 days. The Bison differs from the baseline LAV-25 by raising the height of the roof, removing the turret ring, placing a commander's cupola behind the driver, and incorporating a rail mount system in the cargo/passenger compartment to quickly change mission specific equipment. The driver is seated in the front-left of the crew compartment. The commander has a slightly raised position directly behind the driver with access to his own hatch and mounted machine gun. The engine is to the right of the crew compartment.
The Canadian Forces began upgrading the Bison between 2002 and 2008. The upgrades include improved engine power, new torsion bars, fittings for add-on armour, air conditioning, and the VRS respirator system for NBC defence.

Variants

The Bison's rail mount system allows it to be adapted to a variety of roles without any major modifications. Bisons used by the Canadian Forces have been adapted for use as armoured personnel carriers, 81mm mortar carriers, ambulances, Mobile Repair Team vehicles, Armoured recovery vehicles, electronic warfare vehicles, and NBC reconnaissance vehicles.

Operators

Current operators