Marines roll out new anti-tank weapon system

Nice to see they are extending the service life of the TOW (probably the ITOW) to protect the Marines.

Love the Marines... they take anything, file off the serial numbers, increase the lethality, and make it theirs. Semper Fi!

USMC has made good with LAVs that Army didn't want. Army was lead service but decided against it during the procurement cycle, so USMC picked up the program. Several variants.

LAV-AT (Anti-Tank)
LAV fitted with an Emerson 901A1 TOW-2 ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile) launcher, the same turret that was fitted on the M901 ITV (Improved TOW Vehicle). It is also armed with a pintle-mounted M240E1 or M240B general-purpose machine gun. It carries a total of 16 TOW missiles, and 1,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.

LAV-ATM (Modernization) replaces the Emerson turret with the Modified Target Acquisition System (MTAS) turret. Improvements include always being in the up position to scan and track while moving, and a more reliable digital design. Development began in 2012 and fielding is planned in 2017.[14]

LAV-M (Mortar)
LAV fitted with opening doors on the top, inside it is fitted with an 81 mm M252 mortar, with 360° traverse, and a pintle-mounted M240E1 machine gun. It carries 99 81 mm mortar shells, and 1,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.

LAV-AD (Air Defense)
LAV fitted with an electric turret mounting a General Dynamics GAU-12 Equalizer 25 mm (0.984 in) 5-barreled Gatling cannon, and two missile pods each with 4× FIM-92 Stinger missiles for Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) duties. Capacity for 990 rounds of 25 mm ammunition, and 16 (including 8 reload rounds) FIM-92 Stinger missiles. This variant has been removed from service.[citation needed] A variant using the Mistral missile in place of Stingers was developed for the export market.[15]

LAV-R (Recovery)
LAV fitted with a boom crane, and recovery winch, for use in recovery of vehicles, specifically other LAVs. It is armed with a pintle-mounted M240E1/G machine gun, and carries 1,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.

LAV-C2 (Command & Control)
LAV with a raised roof to accommodate several VHF, UHF and HF radios. It is armed with a pintle-mounted M240E1/G machine gun, and carries 1,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition. Generally referred to as the C2 ("C-square" or "C-two").

LAV-LOG (Logistics)
LAV modified for use in a logistics role (e.g., cargo transport).

LAV-MEWSS (Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System)
LAV modified for use in an electronic warfare role. Specific details of this variant are classified.

LAV-EFSS (Expeditionary Fire Support System)
Proposed replacement for LAV-M, LAV fitted with provisions to use Dragon Fire, a 120 mm recoil mortar system.