Trumpeter 00393 USMC LAV-AD Light Armored Vehicle Air Defense variant

The LAV-AD is a modern American, wheeled, short-range self-propelled anti-aircraft system. The vehicle is powered by a single engine Detroit Diesel 6V53T with a power of 279 hp . It is armed with a single GAU-12 automatic gun in the 25mm Gatling system and two quadruple FIM-92 Stinger rocket launchers.

LAV-AD was developed by General Dynamics based on the LAV-25 wheeled armored personnel carrier for use by the US Marine Corps. The basic change in relation to the LAV-25 consisted in the use of anti-aircraft weapons and retrofitting the vehicle with appropriate electronics enabling its effective use. The LAV-AD has the ability to drive rough terrain and is capable of negotiating water obstacles. It also provides its crews with protection against small arms and artillery fragments. The vehicle is capable of countering flying vehicles at distances of up to 8,000 meters with the Stinger missiles and up to 2,500 meters with the GAU-12 cannon. Based on the LAV-AD, the Blazer anti-aircraft defense system with Mistral missiles and other electronics has been developed, which is dedicated to foreign markets. The US Marine Corps took the last batch of LAV-AD vehicles in 1999.