Designed to operate in the world’s hot spots, the Coyote Armoured Vehicle is armed and armoured to fulfil difficult missions.
Introduce
According to Jane’s 360, the Chilean government has given green light to the procurement of a dozen second-hand Coyote 8×8 armoured scout vehicles for the navy’s Marine Corps.
A derivative of the Swiss MOWAG Piranha, one of the most successful western wheeled multirole vehicle of the last three decades. The Coyote was, in fact, a licensed version of the Piranha II by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada, developed to fulfil Canadian requirements.
Coyote is a fast, 14.4 tonne armed scout vehicle aimed for reconnaissance of territory where opposition is expected. It was to replace the Canadian family of Armoured Vehicle General Purpose comprising the Grizzly, Cougar and Husky from the late 1970s.
In service since 1996, the Coyote is a later generation of the LAV-25 and is of the same family and similar generation as the Bison APC and the Australian ASLAV.
Design
Designed to operate in the world’s hot spots, the Coyote Armoured Vehicle is armed and armoured to fulfil difficult missions. Of similar hull shape to the Bison or LAV-II, it is fully amphibious, NBC protected, have automatic fire extinguishers, as well as central heating and cold weather equipment, starters, etc.
The ballistic-steel hull protects against small-arms fire, mines and high-explosive airbursts. The hull is protected much like the LAV-II by an armor ranging presumably from 8 to 13 mm, but with add-on armor panels that claim some protection against heavier rounds.
The driver has a single-piece hatch cover that opens to the left and three M17 day periscopes, the centre one of which can be replaced by a thermal vision device. The driver’s periscopes have two levels of laser protection and are upgradable to three levels of protection. There is a hull escape hatch in the left side of the vehicle.
The Delco Defense Systems Operations LAV-25 turret upgraded to full electric drive is in the centre of the hull, with the commander seated on the right and the gunner on the left, with both having a single-piece hatch cover that opens to the rear.
The commander has a total of seven day periscopes with two levels of laser protection which are upgradable to three layers of protection.
The gunner has a sight observation periscope in the left side of the turret roof with two levels of laser protection which is upgradable to three levels of protection. In the forward part of the roof the gunner has a DIM 36 target acquisition sight, HIRE thermal sight with through the sight laser range-finder.
Powerplant and performance
Propulsion consists in a proven 275 hp Detroit Diesel 6V53T with an Allison MT653 transmission developing 400 horsepower.
Top speed is 120 km/h, for an operational range of 660 km. Agility is helped by a turning radius of 15.5 m and the ability to cross a trench 2m wide, climb a 60% gradient or run on a 30% side slope.
Armament
Main armament comprises a fully stabilised The Boeing Company 25mm M242 Chain Gun with a 7.62mm C6 machine gun being mounted coaxial to the right and provision for a roof-mounted 7.62mm C6 machine gun.
The turret is equipped with a laser rangefinder, but no ballistic computer; elevation and lead corrections are applied manually by the gunner using multi-stadia reticules in the day, thermal, and image intensification sights. The turret is also equipped with grenade dischargers that can be loaded with smoke and fragmentation grenades.
Variants
Coyotes come in three variants: Command, Mast, and Remote. The Mast and Remote variants have a sophisticated suite of electronic surveillance equipment including radar, video, and infrared surveillance night vision devices.
The mast variant has this equipment mounted on a 10-metre telescoping mast that can be extended to raise the surveillance suite out from behind cover.
The remote variant of the Coyote has its surveillance suite mounted on two short tripods, which crew can deploy remotely using a 200-metre spool of cable.
When first purchased, the Coyote was designated for service with both the Regular Force and Reserve Force, with the Mast variants earmarked for the Regular units and the Remotes designated for the Reserves. Shortly after taking delivery of the vehicles, but before they were assigned to the Reserve units, all Coyotes were reassigned to the Regular Force.
Operator
Since the introduction of the Coyote to the Canadian Armed Forces, the vehicle has served national interest domestically and abroad. The Coyote served during the United Nations missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Kosovo, and in Afghanistan.
Domestically, it has been deployed during “Operation Grizzly” to Kananaskis to secure the 28th G8 summit, the 36th G8 summit, and the G-20 Toronto summit, in addition to a number of domestic emergency response incidents. The Coyote is currently being retired and is being replaced by a mix of TAPV and LAV VI armoured vehicles.
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