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LAV-AD

LAV-AD

USA · SPAA · Rank 7

Battle Ratings

Arcade9.7
Realistic10
Simulator10

These are archived ratings; check the game for current values. The history below shows recorded ratings and announced changes.

Vehicle Overview

Nation
USA
Class
SPAA
Rank
7
Acquisition Type
Tech Tree

View official War Thunder Wiki entry ↗

Battlefield Role

Find cover from enemy tanks while keeping a clear view of the sky. Move after firing if you have given away your position.

Strengths

Keep enemy aircraft off your teammates. Learn the range and limits of your guns, radar or missiles.

When to spawn

Bring it when aircraft or helicopters are threatening your team.

Common Mistakes

  • Repeating the same peek. Once an enemy has your range, move to another angle before firing again. A second shot from the same opening is easier to anticipate.
  • Chasing tanks while aircraft attack. Keep a covered firing position and scan the sky between bursts. A ground target is not worth giving an aircraft a free approach.

Survivability and Armor

Crew
3 persons

Your crew and equipment are vulnerable to ground fire. Check nearby roads and corners while watching the sky.

Positioning

Use solid cover around the crew compartment and stay clear of enemy tank sightlines while tracking aircraft.

Keep exposed sides and the fighting compartment behind cover. Check the incoming round and impact angle in Protection Analysis before relying on the armor.

Ammunition

FIM-92E · AAM

Check seeker and guidance requirements before launch. Keep the target within the weapon’s tracking limits and retain cover for the engagement.

FIM-92K · AAM

Check seeker and guidance requirements before launch. Keep the target within the weapon’s tracking limits and retain cover for the engagement.

Default · SAPHEI-T/SAPHEI-T/HVAP

Weapon
25 mm GAU-12U cannon

Choose this belt for the target: armor-piercing rounds help against thin armor; explosive and incendiary rounds are useful against aircraft and exposed crews.

PGU-32 · SAPHEI-T/HEI/HEI

Weapon
25 mm GAU-12U cannon

Choose this belt for the target: armor-piercing rounds help against thin armor; explosive and incendiary rounds are useful against aircraft and exposed crews.

PGU-20/U · HVAP/HVAP/SAPHEI-T

Weapon
25 mm GAU-12U cannon

Choose this belt for the target: armor-piercing rounds help against thin armor; explosive and incendiary rounds are useful against aircraft and exposed crews.

M247 · HEAT

Weapon
Hydra 70

Use against armor where the jet can reach the crew. Composite armor and ERA can defeat it; fences and other obstacles may trigger the shell before impact.

Ready Rack and Carry Load

Maximum capacity
16 rounds

Carry enough for the route and resupply plan. A listed first-stage capacity alone does not establish a safe spawn load or prove that another rack is empty.

Mobility

Maximum forward speed
100 km/h
Maximum reverse speed
18 km/h
Power-to-weight ratio
20.5 hp/t
Engine power
275 hp
Weight
13.4 t

Top speed is not cross-country pace. Check the reverse route before taking a firing position.

Optics

Gunner

Night equipment
Thermal imager
Thermal generation
Gen 2
Magnification
4.0×–12.0×

Commander

Night equipment
Not Equipped

Driver

Night equipment
Night vision device

Target Acquisition

Commander Override
Equipped · dual control
Rangefinder
Laser rangefinder
Gun stabilization
Two-plane stabilizer

Armaments

Primary weapon
FIM-92 Stinger
Secondary weapons
25 mm GAU-12U cannon · Hydra 70
Reload
19.5 → 15 s
Fire rate
60 shots/min

Economy

Crew training
200,000 SL
Expert crew
710,000 SL
Ace crew
2,100 GE
Ace crew research
1,080,000 RP
Reward multiplier · SL (AB/RB/SB)
160/190/240%
Reward multiplier · RP
232%
Total cost of modifications · RP
209,300 RP
Total cost of modifications · SL
348,000 SL

Battle Rating History

LAV-AD · confirmed changes
DateGame modeBattle rating
No confirmed battle rating changes are recorded.
Archived rating records
Recorded snapshots
Date / sourceArcadeRealisticSimulator
October 8, 2026Site profile snapshot9.710.010.0
November 26, 2024Observed · Wiki archive ↗9.710.010.0
Sources and data checks

Vehicle data checked October 8, 2026. Crew optics checked October 22, 2026. Speeds use Realistic Battles values. Reload depends on crew skills and qualification; damage can reduce performance. Unknown equipment is not a confirmed absence.

Community discussion

LAV-AD vehicle guide · 0 comments

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