Canada Converting LAV-III TUAVs to Infantry Carriers

M1134 Stryker

The Canadian Department of National Defence has awarded Genertal Dynamics Land Systems – Canada a C$ 49.2 million (about $46.3 million) contract to take 33 of the 71 LAV-III chassis originally manufactured under a previous contract for LAV-III TOW Under Armour (TUA) vehicles, and use them as infantry carriers, instead of inegrating the Kvaerner TUA turret from older M113s. GDLS Canada will oversee the LAV-III TUAV conversion and act as the lead integrator. Rheinmetall Canada of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, will supply the Remote Weapon Station, which will feature a universal gun cradle capable of mounting 5.56, 7.62 and 12.7 mm armaments and a cooled thermal sight system. Delivery of the converted Infantry Section Carriers will occur from June 2008 – March 2009. GDLS release.

$5.7M for Predator Op Complex in Houston, TX

Do you feel
lucky, punk?

Small business qualifier Stewart-Matl Ltd. in Austin, TX won a $5.7 million firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a Predator Operations Complex in Houston, TX. Work is expected to be complete by March 31, 2008. Bids were solicited via the World Wide Web on May 4, 2007, and 3 bids were received by the National Guard Bureau in Austin, TX (W912L1-07-C-5010).

The USAF is currently in the middle of a major Predator fleet expansion, while the US Army prepares to induct the related Sky Warrior ER/MP. Predator pilots don’t have to be on the front lines themselves; indeed, most are currently flown out of a facility near Las Vegas.