GDLS Canada Unveils Grizzly LAV 10×10 Self-Propelled Howitzer at CANSEC 2026

OTTAWA — During CANSEC 2026 in Ottawa, General Dynamics Land Systems–Canada unveiled the GRIZZLY LAV 10×10 Self-Propelled Howitzer, a new wheeled artillery platform designed to strengthen the Canadian Army’s long-range fire support and battlefield mobility capabilities. The system features a newly developed 10×10 Light Armoured Vehicle chassis paired with a fully automated 155mm artillery module and is being positioned as a potential replacement for the Canadian Armed Forces’ aging fleet of M777 towed howitzers, which have served as the Army’s primary indirect fire system for nearly two decades.

The unveiling comes as NATO militaries increasingly prioritize highly mobile and survivable artillery systems capable of operating in contested environments shaped by drone surveillance, precision strikes, and counter-battery fire. At the same time, lessons emerging from the war in Ukraine have accelerated interest in self-propelled howitzers able to rapidly fire and reposition before enemy forces can respond.

READ: CDR NAMES GDLS-CANADA TOP DEFENCE COMPANY FOR 2026

Reflecting those battlefield trends, the GRIZZLY has been designed around a Canadian-developed LAV architecture that draws on the mobility and logistical advantages already familiar to the Canadian Army through its extensive use of LAV-family vehicles. According to GDLS-Canada, the system offers commonality in maintenance, training, and operational support with existing armoured fleets, potentially reducing sustainment costs and simplifying battlefield logistics.

Premier Doug Ford was at CANSEC 2026, announcing the Ontario Defence Industrial Strategy. GDLS-Canada, named CDR’s Top Canadian Defence Company for 2026, was there to mark the moment with the framed CDR feature in hand.

READ MORE: CANSEC 2026 Highlights: CDR on the Ground

A highly automated artillery module is also integrated into the GRIZZLY, improving battlefield responsiveness while enhancing crew protection during combat operations. The platform’s artillery system is centred around a remotely operated 155mm gun turret mounted at the rear of the elongated 10×10 chassis. Paired with an automated loading system and protected crew compartment, the design enables artillery crews to conduct fire missions while remaining under armour protection, significantly improving survivability compared with traditional towed systems that require soldiers to operate in exposed positions.

That emphasis on survivability extends beyond armour protection alone. The GRIZZLY has been designed around rapid “shoot-and-scoot” tactics that allow the vehicle to fire and relocate quickly in order to avoid enemy counter-battery strikes. The wheeled configuration also provides high operational mobility across long distances without the heavy logistical burden typically associated with tracked self-propelled howitzers.

Equally important is the platform’s expected compatibility with standard NATO 155mm ammunition, including extended-range projectiles. Based on current industry standards for modern 155mm artillery systems, the GRIZZLY could potentially achieve firing ranges exceeding 40 kilometres with conventional ammunition and beyond 70 kilometres when using rocket-assisted or precision-guided rounds, although GDLS-Canada has not yet released official performance figures.

Range alone, however, is no longer sufficient for modern artillery operations. The platform’s automated fire-control system is expected to support rapid target engagement, reduced crew workload, and multiple-round simultaneous impact (MRSI) capability, allowing several projectiles fired in succession to strike a target at nearly the same time. Such capabilities have become increasingly important in modern high-intensity warfare, where speed of engagement and survivability are critical to artillery effectiveness.

At CDR’s pre-CANSEC reception, we celebrated GDLS-Canada being named Top Canadian Defence Company, reinforcing its role as the backbone of Canada’s armoured vehicle capability.

The decision to adopt a wheeled 10×10 configuration also reflects Canada’s longstanding emphasis on expeditionary and rapidly deployable forces. Compared with tracked self-propelled howitzers, wheeled systems generally require less maintenance, consume less fuel, and can self-deploy over large distances using road networks without requiring specialized transport equipment.

The enlarged chassis further appears designed to support greater ammunition storage capacity, improved stability during firing operations, and future integration of advanced battlefield systems. Industry observers have also noted similarities between the mounted artillery module and modern automated turret systems already entering service with several NATO armies.

WATCH CDR CANSEC 2026 RECAP HERE.

Taken together, these design features reflect the broader evolution of artillery warfare over the past decade, as armies increasingly seek systems that combine mobility, protection, automation, and sustained firepower within a single platform. For the Canadian Army, those requirements have become more pressing as operational lessons from recent conflicts continue reshaping force modernization priorities.

The ground service’s M777 fleet, overall, has demonstrated strong operational performance in Afghanistan and has also gained renewed international attention through systems donated to Ukraine. Nevertheless, evolving battlefield conditions are driving increased demand for protected self-propelled howitzers capable of surviving in environments saturated with drones, sensors, and precision-guided weapons.

Seen in that light, the GRIZZLY’s debut at CANSEC 2026 highlighted GDLS-Canada’s efforts to position the platform as both a domestic modernization option and a competitive offering for international markets.

Enhancing the CAF’s Future War-fighting Capability

For the Canadian Armed Forces, a platform such as the GRIZZLY could significantly improve operational flexibility, survivability, and long-range strike capability during future conflicts.

Modern artillery units face persistent threats from loitering munitions, unmanned aerial systems, electronic surveillance, and counter-battery radars. In response, a self-propelled howitzer capable of rapidly firing and repositioning would help reduce exposure times while enabling dispersed operations across large and contested battlespaces.

The GRIZZLY could also strengthen the Canadian Army’s ability to support rapidly manoeuvring brigade combat teams during NATO reinforcement missions in Europe or operations in the Arctic, where mobility, responsiveness, and sustained long-range fires are becoming increasingly important.

Commonality with existing LAV-based fleets may further streamline training, maintenance, and logistics while improving operational readiness across the force. Combined with its protected mobility, automated fire systems, and long-range strike potential, the platform would provide the Canadian Army with a more modern artillery capability better suited to future coalition operations and high-intensity combat environments.

Ultimately, with the GRIZZLY now publicly unveiled, attention will likely shift toward whether Canada formally pursues a self-propelled artillery procurement program and how GDLS-Canada’s new platform competes against other wheeled artillery systems currently available on the international market.