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Product Type: |
Armored Wheeled Vehicle |
Using Service (US): |
Army |
Program Status: |
In Production |
Prime Contractor: |
The Stryker is a family of 8 wheel drive heavily armored vehicles designed to enable the Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT)
to maneuver more easily in close and urban terrain while providing protection in the open.
The Stryker vehicles (manufactured by General Dynamics - Land Systems) are powered by a single Caterpillar C7 JP-8 compatible
diesel engine with 350 hp. The Stryker can reach speeds of up to 60 mph (96 km/h) with a maximum range of 330 miles (531 km).
There are two main versions, which include the Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) and the Mobile Gun System (MGS) and
as of September 2011, the U.S. Army has purchased a total of 4,057 vehicles. The Stryker will replace the Army's M113
Armored Personnel Carrier (APC). The ICV comes in nine different variants, including the
standard version (ICV), Reconnaissance Vehicle (RV), Mortar Carrier (MC), Command Vehicle (CV), Fire
Support Vehicle, (FSV), Engineer Squad Vehicle (ESV), Medical Evacuation Vehicle (MEV), Anti-tank Guided
Missile Vehicle (ATGM), and NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle (NBCRV). The first Stryker vehicles were delivered to
the U.S. Army in February 2002.
The Stryker can be deployed by C-5 Galaxy (carries 4),
C-17 Globemaster (carries 3),
and C-130 Hercules (carries 1) military transport aircraft
and be combat-ready upon arrival.
The Stryker features an internetted C4ISR capability; integral all-around 14.5mm armor protection and 152mm artillery airburst protection
(upgradeable to RPG protection with add-on armor); self-deployment and self-recovery capability; reduced vehicle acoustic signature;
the ability to carry a nine-man infantry or engineer squad; and bunker and wall breaching capabilities.
The Stryker ICV provides protected battlefield transport of up to nine combat equipped troops (+2 crew). The mounted weapon station allows for direct fire support to dismounted troops during assaults. As the most common variant in the Stryker family of vehicles, the ICV is first and foremost responsible for the movement of troops across the field of battle. The ICV can be equipped with a variety of survivability kits, thus making it one of the most versatile and safest personnel carriers in the U.S. Army's inventory.
The MGS provides lethal direct fire using its fully stabilized 105mm M68A1 rifled gun to support dismounted infantry, while providing solid protection to its crew of three. The MGS variant supports dismounted infantry and engages the enemy in close combat to clear opposition and permit rapid movement, thus allowing the force to maintain the initiative, occupy and/or secure key objectives and defeat strong points such as walls, bunkers, and buildings.
The Stryker ICV variants can be equipped with a .50 caliber (12.7mm) M2 machine gun or an M240 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The Standard ICV, the Command Vehicle CV, and the Recovery Vehicle (RV) variants can be equipped with an Mk 19 40mm grenade launcher instead of the .50 caliber MG. The Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicle (ATGM) variant uniquely features a Raytheon BGM-71 TOW II anti-tank missile system. The Mortar Carrier (MC) variant uniquely features a Soltam Systems 120mm mortar + 81mm and 60mm mortars to support dismounted troops. The Stryker MEV (Medical Evacuation Vehicle) carries no weaponry. The Stryker MGS variant is equipped with a 105mm main tank gun, which can fire up to 6 rounds per minute, a .50 caliber M2 machine gun, and an M240 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The MGS features an automated ammunition handling system with a capacity of 18 rounds for the 105mm main gun. For full detail, see specifications at the end of this page.
The Stryker vehicle is designed to enable the Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) to maneuver more easily in close and urban terrain while providing protection in open terrain. It meets the U.S. Army's current transformation goal, which is to equip a strategically deployable brigade (using a C-17 or C-5) and an operationally deployable brigade (using a C-130) that is capable of rapid movement anywhere on the globe in a combat-ready configuration.
FY 2012 Base procurement dollars in the amount of $606.9 million supports the purchase of 100 Stryker vehicles (all NBCRV variant), including 62 for the Active Army, 25 for the Army National Guard, and 13 for the Army Reserve.
FY 2013 Base procurement dollars in the amount of $286.8 million supports the purchase of 58 Stryker NBCRV Vehicles. Funding also provides for Program Management Support Costs both government and contractor, Logistics Engineering Support, System Technical Support, Depot Level Repair Instructions & Equipment, System Fielding Support and Training Devices. The Stryker NBCRV variant provides on the move and remote near-real-time Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) detection and surveillance to supply battlefield visualization of NBC hazards. For more information, click to view the FY 2013 Stryker Budget.
Source: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and General Dynamics
Last Update: July 16, 2012.
By Joakim Kasper Oestergaard (www.kostergaard.com)
General Dynamics: Stryker ICV (Infantry Carrier Vehicle)
General Dynamics: Stryker MGS (Mobile Gun System)
Caterpillar: Caterpillar Military Engines
YouTube: Stryker Armored Vehicle | YouTube Videos
Fact Sheet: Not Available
Stryker U.S. Defense Budget Charts: |
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Primary Function: Armed and protected battlefield transport of troops |
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Primary Function: Heavy fire support |
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