The Light Forces Enhancement (LFE) project will deliver a new suite of vehicles to the Canadian Army specifically tailored to the Canadian Light Forces (LF) unique operational requirements.

As part of a review in support of the Adaptive Dispersed Operations concept, the Canadian LF need new light tactical personnel and cargo carrying capabilities. These capabilities will move soldiers and equipment across complex terrain which currently can only be reached on foot. It will lighten CAF soldiers’ on-person combat burden by carrying additional equipment and supplies, and will cover a larger area of operation through increased speed, range, and duration. This powerful, lightweight solution is expected to operate in domestic and expeditionary deployments, up to and including high threat environments; and enabling LF to keep up with mechanized elements of the Canadian Forces.

The project will deliver upgraded tactical mobility to Army LF including: Light Infantry, Artillery Tactical Groups, Light Engineers, Influence Activities, Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, as well as select Tranche 1 and 2 Reserve Mission Tasked (M/T) Infantry Units in 2,3, and 4 Divisions (mortars, direct fire support, pioneer platoons, Inf Recce Pl).

The LFE project has a projected budget of $50 – 99 million CAD, and will procure up to 330 ultralight tactical mobility platforms comprised of a mix of both Tactical Mobility Platforms – Personnel (TMP-P) and Tactical Mobility Platforms – Cargo (TMP-C) vehicles capable of being configured between both roles which will allow individual teams of soldiers to move themselves and the materiel necessary for completion of the mission efficiently, while minimizing fatigue, and sustain soldiers for its duration.

In support of Canada’s contribution to NATO Advanced Force Projection (aFP) in Latvia, as part of Operation REASSURANCE, Canada will procure Tactical Mobility Platform vehicles (TMPs) to equip a deployed Light Forces Battle Group starting in Fall 2024. This accelerated procurement is Phase 1 of LFE and is named Light Tactical Vehicle (LTV). An RFI was published on November 20th 2023, asking industry for options for Phase 1 – LTV which could acquire up to 108 vehicles.

On July 23^rd, Canada announced it is investing $35.8 million (including taxes) to deliver 90 Light Tactical Vehicles (LTVs) to Canadian Army personnel deployed in Latvia under Operation REASSURANCE – Canada’s mission in support of NATO’s assurance and deterrence measures.

To deliver these vehicles, Canada finalized a contract with GM Defense Canada Company of Oshawa, Ontario, for 36 cargo and 54 personnel variants of the vehicle. The personnel variant is designed for teams of up to nine soldiers, while the cargo variant is designed for two to four soldiers and larger cargo. Light Forces equipped with a combination of cargo and personnel variants will be able to carry weapons, personal effects, and combat supplies for 72 hours of self-sufficient operation.

The contract also includes integrated logistics support and up to two years of spare parts for the LTV fleet, as well as an option to procure up to an additional 18 LTV. The vehicles will be based on an off-the-shelf design so that they are delivered as quickly as possible.

The first five vehicles are expected to arrive in Canada later this month, and will be used as the training fleet. Initial Cadre Training by the Canadian Army is expected to begin in late August 2024, with the remaining vehicles expected to arrive in Latvia by early October 2024.

The LTV contract is the first phase of the Light Forces Enhancement (LFE) Project. LFE will deliver a specialized, new wheeled off-road vehicle capability to the Canadian Armed Forces’ Light Forces – which are rapidly deployable and optimized for terrain and conditions not suited to mechanized forces.