AN/TWQ-1 HMMWV Avenger

     Notes: In the mid-1980s, General Electric developed an ADA vehicle based on the HMMWV chassis to fill an Army requirement for a light air defense vehicle.  The Avenger’s only difference from a standard HMMWV is the mounting of a Pedestal- Mounted Stinger System (PMSS) in the cargo bed.  The PMSS is a turret housing four twin-tube Stinger launchers (8 tubes altogether) along with an M2HB machinegun.  Since the turret’s aiming systems are computer-controlled, firing Stingers from a PMSS is an Average (Tac Missile + Computer) task.

     The Avenger is used by the US Army, and previously used by the US Marines.  Other operators include Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Taiwan, and Ukraine. 

     Avengers have been tested with Starstreak SAMs mounted in place of the Stingers; in this configuration, one Stinger pod is replaced by a pod of Starstreak missiles.  This addresses the Stinger’s problem with low-contrast targets like hovering helicopters, which are sometimes not detected by Stinger seekers.  The Starstreak system was tested as a possible light SAM solution for Britain in 1990-91, though ultimately it was decided not to go ahead with the program.

     Avengers have also been tested with the quad pods of Stingers replaced by triple Mistral pods.  One prototype was built in 1992 and experimented until 1997, when it was dropped. This variant was originally built to a French requirement.

     The Avenger DEW (Directed Energy Weapon), also known as the Laser Avenger, replaced the right Stinger pod with a 1kw laser for use against UAVs and UXO.  The M3 was also replaced by an M242 25mm chain gun, along with an increased ammunition supply.  As of December 2022 this modification is still being experimented with.

     The Avenger Multirole Weapon System (MWS) relocates the M3 to a remote turret above the cab, and replaces one Stinger pod with a pod for two Javelin ATGMs. This is also still being experimented with, but by GDLS instead of the Army.

     The Avenger AI3 (Accelerated Improved Interceptor Initiative) replaces both Stinger pods with a pair of AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.  The Army decided against the AI3 in 2013, but General Dynamics is still experimenting with the AI3, hoping for foreign sales.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

Avenger

$260,523

D, G, A

173 kg

3.9 tons

2

7

FLIR, Image Intensification

Open

Avenger Starstreak

$278,258

D, G, A

173 kg

3.92 tons

2

7

FLIR, Image Intensification

Open

Avenger Mistral

$198,419

D, G, A

173 kg

3.93 tons

2

7

FLIR, Image Intensification

Open

Avenger DEW

$463,884

D, G, A

173 kg

4.14 tons

2

9

FLIR, Image Intensification

Open

Avenger MWS

$282,916

D, G, A

173 kg

3.89 tons

2

8

FLIR, Image Intensification

Open

Avenger AI3

$205,509

D, G, A

173 kg

3.98 tons

2

9

FLIR, Image Intensification

Open

 

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

Avenger

249/126

69/35

95

50

Trtd

W(2)

TF1  TS1  TR1  HF1  HS1  HR1

Avenger Starstreak

249/126

69/35

95

50

Trtd

W(2)

TF1  TS1  TR1  HF1  HS1  HR1

Avenger Mistral

249/126

69/35

95

50

Trtd

W(2)

TF1  TS1  TR1  HF1  HS1  HR1

Avenger DEW

236/119

65/33

95

50

Trtd

W(2)

TF1  TS1  TR1  HF1  HS1  HR1

Avenger MWS

249/126

69/35

95

50

Trtd

W(2)

TF1  TS1  TR1  HF1  HS1  HR1

Avenger AI3

244/123

68/34

95

50

Trtd

W(2)

TF1  TS1  TR1  HF1  HS1  HR1

 

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

Avenger

+2

Fair

8xStinger Launchers, M3P

8xStinger, 650x.50

Avenger Starstreak

+2

Fair

4xStinger Launchers, 4xStarstreak Launchers, M3P

4xStinger, 4xStarstreak, 650x.50

Avenger Mistral

+2

Fair

6xMistral Launchers, M3P

6xMistral, 650x.50

Avenger DEW

+2

Fair

4xStinger Launchers, 1kw Solid-State Laser, M242 25mm Chain Gun

4xStinger, 650x25mm

Avenger MWS

+2

Fair

4xStinger Launchers, 2xJavelin Launchers, M3P

4xStinger, 2xJavelin, 650x.50

Avenger AI3

+2

Fair

2xAIM-9L Sidewinder Launchers, M3P

2xSidewinder, 650x.50

 

HUMRAAM

     Notes: This vehicle is a ground mounting of the AMRAAM air-to-air missile on a HMMWV chassis, for use as a light SAM mounting.  The mounting is also known as a SLAMRAAM (Surface-Launched AMRAAM). This consists of a 5-missile launcher on an elevating ramp on the back of the HMMWV, and uses the active radar in the nose of the weapon to guide the missile, or the radar of an accompanying vehicle.  If only the active radar is used, the AMRAAMs range is limited to 21,000 meters.  The rotating mechanism is the same as used on the HMMWV Avenger.  This vehicle is still being tested in 2004, mostly by the US Marines.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$627,218

D, A

150 kg

4.13 tons

3

6

Image Intensification (G)

Open

 

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

236/119

65/33

95

50

Trtd

W(2)

TF1  TS1  TR1  HF1  HS1  HR1

 

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

+2

None

5xAIM-120A AMRAAM Launchers

5xAMRAAM

 

LAV-150 ADA Vehicle

     Notes: This is basically a PIVAD turret mounted on a LAV-150 chassis. The hull is almost the same externally, but the turret is the same as the turret of the M163 PIVAD vehicle.  The interior is much modified to accommodate the turret and its mechanism and racks for additional ammunition.  The PIVAD turret provides a small range-only radar keyed to the range of the Vulcan and rudimentary IR sights, and an optical lead sight. To stabilize the light chassis, three outriggers may be extended before firing, one to the front and one to each rear corner. The engine is a 275-horsepower diesel, the same engine as on the M113 APC, coupled to a manual or automatic transmission depending upon the wishes of the user. (The Saudis use an automatic transmission.)

     The LAV-150 ADA was developed for the Saudi National Guard and is not known to be in use by another other entity.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$110,490

D, A

235 kg

9 tons

3

8

Passive IR (D, G), Radar (6 km) (G)

Enclosed

 

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

223/113

62/31/6

303

102

Trtd

W(3)

TF4  TS4  TR3  HF5  HS3  HR2

 

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

+1

None

20mm M130 Vulcan Autocannon

400x20mm

 

LAV-150 SAM Vehicle

     Notes: This is an RBS-70 launcher mounted on an elevating pedestal in the rear of a LAV-150 vehicle. This pedestal is not a turret and is merely a launcher which is raised out of the armor envelope on an electrically-actuated pedestal while aiming and firing.  Normally, the pedestal is lowered again after a shot and the roof hatches closed, but this is not required for movement. The machinegun is mounted ahead of the roof hatches on a pintle mount at the commander’s hatch. This vehicle was originally designed as a light SAM vehicle for SAAB for international sales, but they did not attract any interest.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$175,080

D, A

257 kg

7.6 tons

4

5

Passive IR (D, G), Image Intensification (G)

Enclosed

 

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

259/130

72/36/7

303

102

Stnd

W(3)

HF5  HS3  HR2

 

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

None

None

RBS-70 launcher, MAG (C)

8xRBS-70 missiles, 2400x7.62mm

 

LAV-300 ADA Vehicle

     Notes: This is similar in concept to the LAV-150 ADA Vehicle, but based on a larger LAV-300 chassis. The hull is almost the same as the LAV-300 APC externally, but the turret is the same as the turret of the M163 PIVAD vehicle.  The interior is much modified to accommodate the turret and its mechanism and racks for additional ammunition.  The PIVAD turret provides a small range-only radar keyed to the range of the Vulcan and rudimentary IR sights, and an optical lead sight. The engine is a 270-horsepower Cummins 6 CTA 8.3 turbocharged diesel engine, coupled to an automatic or manual transmission depending upon the wishes of the buyer.  Along with the rest of the LAV-300 line, the LAV-300 ADA vehicle ended manufacture in 2020, though used examples are available all over the world.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$129,002

D, A

300kg

12 tons

3

8

Passive IR (D, G), Radar (6 km) (G)

Enclosed

 

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

173/87

48/24/5

435

101

Trtd

W(3)

TF4  TS4  TR3  HF8  HS5  HR4

 

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

+1

Fair

20mm M130 Vulcan Autocannon

800x20mmVulcan