Stryker 8-wheel Drive Armoured Combat Vehicles

Stryker is a family of eight-wheel drive combat vehicles, transportable in a C-130 aircraft, being built for the US Army by General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada (formerly General Motors Defense) and General Dynamics Land Systems Division of USA. Stryker is based on the GDLS Canada LAV III 8x8 light armoured vehicle, in service since early 2001. The LAV III is itself a version of the Piranha III built by Mowag of Switzerland, now part of GDLS - Europe. Fabrication and final assembly of the vehicles is being shared among plants at Anniston, Alabama; Lima, Ohio; and London, Ontario.

The Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) combines the capacity for rapid deployment with survivability and tactical mobility. The Stryker vehicle enables the team to manoeuvre in close and urban terrain, provide protection in open terrain and transport infantry quickly to critical battlefield positions.

The contract for the US Army's interim armoured vehicle (IAV) was awarded in November 2000. The vehicles are to form the basis of six Brigade Combat Teams by 2008. The contract requirement covers the supply of 2,131 vehicles. Deliveries of Stryker infantry carriers began from General Motors London, Ontario, plant in March and General Dynamics Anniston, Alabama, facility in April 2002. Over 450 vehicles have been delivered and one SBCT has been fielded. The second SBCT will be declared operational by the end of 2004 and deliveries for the third are underway. Contracts for 328 vehicles to form the fourth brigade were placed in March / June 2004 for delivery between 2005 / 2006. The eight-wheeled Stryker is the first new military vehicle to enter service into the United States Army since the Abrams tank in the 1980s.

Initial Operational Test and Evaluation began in May 3003 with the Arrowhead Lightning II exercise. In November 2003, the Stryker entered operational service with the US Army when a Stryker brigade landed in Kuwait. Stryker brigades are deployed in Iraq and a Stryker vehicle first entered combat in December 2003.

VARIANTS

Stryker variants include the Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) and the Mobile Gun System (MGS). There are eight configurations of the ICV including Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle (NBC RV); Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM); Medical Evacuation Vehicle (MEV); Mortar Carrier (MC); Engineer Squad Vehicle (ESV); Command Vehicle (CV); Fire Support Vehicle (FSV); and the Reconnaissance Vehicle (RV). They have parts commonality and self-recovery abilities and are equipped with a central tire inflation system.

The Reconnaissance Vehicle is fitted with the Raytheon Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System (LRAS3). The system includes a second-generation Horizontal Technology Initiative (HTI) thermal imager, day TV and eyesafe laser rangefinder. The US Army is to enhance the system by lengthening the sensor mast to 10m, increasing the range to 10km.

STRYKER INFANTRY CARRIER VEHICLE

The Stryker is a full time four-wheel drive, selectively eight-wheel drive, armoured vehicle weighing approximately 19t. The vehicle can attain speeds of 62mph on metalled roads and has a maximum range of 312 miles.

The basic infantry carrier vehicle (ICV) provides armoured protection for the two-man crew and a squad of nine infantry soldiers. The basic hard steel armour is augmented by applique panels of lightweight ceramic/composite armour produced by a team led by IBD/Deisenroth Engineering of Germany. The armour provides integral all-round 14.5mm protection against machine gun rounds, mortar and artillery fragments. RPG-7 protection is optional. In Iraq, in January 2004, Stryker vehicles were outfitted with a "cage" of slat armour, which encircles the vehicle about 18in from the main body, as protection against rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). Add-on reactive armour kits will be fielded from March 2005.

The ICV has a Kongsberg Protech Remote Weapon Station with a universal soft mount cradle, which can mount either a 0.50 caliber M2 machine gun, MK19 40mm grenade launcher or MK240 7.62mm machine gun. It is also armed with four M6 smoke grenade launchers.

The vehicle's commander has an FBCB2 (Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below) digital communications system that allows communication between vehicles through text messaging and a map network, as well as with the battalion. The map shows the position of all vehicles on the battlefield and the commander can mark the position of enemy forces on the map which can then be seen by other commanders. FBCB2, "the tactical internet", includes the Raytheon AN/TSQ-158 Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS).

The Stryker driver has three M-17 periscopes and a DRS Technologies AN/VAS-5 Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE). The vehicle commander has seven M45 periscopes and a thermal imager display with video camera.

STRYKER MOBILE GUN SYSTEM

GM GDLS delivered eight pre-production Stryker Mobile Gun Systems to the US Army between July 2002 and March 2003. Low-rate initial production (LRIP) of 72 additional mobile gun variants is underway at General Dynamics' Anniston, Alabama, facility. Full-rate production is to begin in late 2005. Stryker MGS has also been selected by the Canadian Army, which plans to acquire 66 systems to replace Leopard 1 tanks.

The Stryker Mobile Gun System variant consists of the basic vehicle with a General Dynamics Land Systems fully stabilized shoot-on-the-move Low Profile Turret. The turret is armed with a M68A1E4 105mm cannon with muzzle brake and an M2 0.50 calibre commander's machine gun. The Stryker Mobile Gun System can fire 18 rounds of 105mm main gun ammunition, 400 rounds of 0.50 calibre ammunition and 3,400 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. Curtiss-Wright Corp's Vista Controls supplies the fully automated ammunition loading and replenishing system. Two M6 smoke grenade launchers are also fitted.

The Mobile Gun System has the same C4ISR communications and driver's vison equipment as the ICV, but the gunner has three periscopes and a compact modular sight with dual field of view day and thermal channels. The MGS also has detectors for nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.

An advantage to the Brigade Combat Teams in having the mobile gun vehicle of the same Stryker family of vehicles is the commonality across the entire capability and the reduced logistics requirement. The Stryker mobile gun does not require a track-vehicle mechanic as would be required for example for the deployment of an M-8 mobile armoured gun system.

TRANSPORTATION

Stryker can be transported on the ground using trucks or by air on C-17, C-5 and C-130 aircraft. The C-5 and C-17 aircraft can carry seven and four Strykers respectively. The C-130H can fly safely carrying a maximum 38,000lb load for up to 1,000nm. The Stryker's weight, 36,240lb, and size are within the payload limit of the C-130H. The C-130 can operate from smaller airfields in more remote locations. All configurations of the Stryker can disembark from the C-130 in combat ready status.
SPECIFICATIONS - STRYKER 8-WHEEL DRIVE ARMOURED COMBAT VEHICLES, USA

Key DataCrew2 (driver, commander) + 9 troops for ICV: 3 (driver, commander, gunner) for MGSDimensionsLength275inWidth107inHeight104inFully equipped weight36,240lb (ICV), 41,300lb (MGS)WeaponsICV0.50-caliber M2 machine gun, MK19 40 mm grenade launcher or MK240 7.62mm machine gun; 4 x M6 smoke grenade launchersMobile Gun SystemM68A1E4 105 mm cannon, M2 0.50 calibre machine gun; 2 x M6 smoke grenade launchersPerformanceRoad speed62mphRange312 milesMax trench crossing6.5ftAcceleration50m <8.0secForward Slope60%Side Slope30%Step Climbing23inAir transportabilityC-130, C-5, C-17CommunicationsSINCGARS (Single-Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System) radios Raytheon AN/TSQ-158 Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS) Squad leaders video display terminal FBCB2 Computer (Commander) NavigationRockwell Collins AN/PSN-11 PLGR precision lightweight GPS receiverPropulsionEngine350hpTransmission6 speeds forward, 1 reverseTransfer case2 speedDifferentials4 automotiveSuspension8 wheel hydropneumaticTyresCentral tyre inflation system with runflatsBrakesPower brakes with ABS on rear three axles