Currently the majority of ‘Light Armoured Vehicles (LAV’s)` in service have an exposed engine exhaust muffler located on the right hand side of the vehicle. The muffler is bolted to the exterior hull of the vehicle and utilizes a flexible bellow-type tube configuration to transition through the hull in order to connect to the diesel engine. This current design uses simple sound baffling chambers with a direct exhaust outlet to the rear of the unit by means of a singular pipe. While the LAV engine is running, the current exhaust system creates an exceptionally large vehicle heat/IR signature; the muffler is extremely hot and does little to reduce the cloud of smoke (soot) and emissions coming from the engine. Because the exhaust system is the hottest single item on the vehicle during operation, the Infrared (IR) signature is clearly visible through thermal imagery equipment (goggles and cameras) as well as provides an easy target for heat seeking ordnance such as IR Seeking Mortars & Rockets. A direct hit from a Heat/IR seeking round in this area of the outer hull can cause serious engine damage and result in complete vehicle immobilization.

The solution to this problem, is replacing the current conventional exhaust muffler unit with a new proprietary ‘State Of The Art’ compact Catalyzed Muffler, Thermal Slip Cover and Heat/IR Shielding system. This combination system was specifically designed by ESW’s engineering team to reduce the overall heat, IR and sound signature of the LAV.