The Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle is an armoured fighting vehicle built by General Motors of Canada for the Canadian Armed Forces. Its 8-wheeled design is licensed from the Swiss firm Mowag , the Mowag Piranha. The Coyote is a larger version of the of the 6-wheeled AVGP, also developed from the Piranha. The United States Marine Corps purchased approximately 1,000 vehicles, which are called the LAV in USMC service. The US Army's Stryker is based on this vehicle.
Coyotes mount a 25 mm autocannon. Some Coyotes also mount a sophisticated suite of electronic surveillance equipment on a telescopic 10 metre mast. The mast has radar, video and infrared surveillance, and can peek out from behind a hill or building.
The original Coyotes were equipped with an amphibious propulsion system. Newer Coyotes use larger wheels than their original version. Compared to the Stryker, the Coyote's hull's armour is more ballistically sloped, offering somewhat better protection at the cost of decreased internal vehicle volume. Stykers only mount a small, remote controlled turret to allow them to be driven on and off a C-130 transport aircraft, and they do not mount the surveillance suite.
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