[Military Sub-Plane] By Friedrich Lau
According to infoDefensa website reported on May 20, the Colombian government has recently approved the purchase of 50 LAVA III DVH 8x8 wheeled armored vehicles produced by general dynamics land systems (GDLS) in the United States, and the new armored vehicles will effectively enhance the combat capabilities of the Colombian armed forces. According to the modernization plan proposed by the Colombian armed forces, the Colombian military will also purchase a batch of M1117 4x4 wheeled armored vehicles produced by the American Textron Company, and showed interest in the purchase of M1A2 main battle tanks.
▲ The LAV III wheeled armored vehicle equipped by the Colombian Armed Forces
Due to the rampant drug smuggling and terrorist activities in Colombia, wheeled armored vehicles are more suitable for handling such incidents and for checking the checkpoints on various roads, so they have gained the favor of the Colombian military. This is not colombia's first purchase of U.S.-made weapons, as early as 2014, the Colombian army received 28 Commando wheeled armored vehicles ordered from the United States in 2013, which is an enlarged version of the M1117 4x4 wheeled armored vehicle, which is equipped with a Cockerill CPWS-30 weapons station equipped with an ATK M230LF 30x113mm machine gun. In recent years, Colombia has also been receiving used M1117 armored vehicles provided by the United States. According to the 2021 military strength data, the Colombian military currently has 28 "commandos", 32 LAV III and 127 M1117 wheeled armored vehicles.
▲ The LAV III wheeled armored vehicle equipped by the Colombian Armed Forces
▲ M1117 wheeled armored vehicle equipped by the Colombian Armed Forces
▲ The "Commando" wheeled armored vehicle equipped by the Colombian Armed Forces
The LAV III DVH (Double-V Hull) that Colombia plans to purchase is an improved version of the LAV III, and the dual V-hull design allows the car to have better protection against mines or improvised explosive devices, improving the vehicle's battlefield survivability while more effectively protecting the crew. The new drive and suspension system greatly improves the vehicle's payload, driving stability and reliability. In addition, the LAV III DVH can be equipped with a remotely controlled weapons station to provide direct fire support for infantry disembarking in combat.
▲ LAV III DVH wheeled armored vehicle