Stryker
IOC: 2003
Total Production: 3,537
Total Program's Cost: USD$15.7 billion
M1128 Stryker MGS
IOC: 2005
Production: 200
Unitary Cost: USD$2.3 million
Also Known As
Mobile Gun System
Origin
United States of America
Contractor/s
General Dynamics
Family Members
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M1129 Stryker MC
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M1131 Stryker FSV
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M1133 Stryker MEV
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M1135 Stryker NBCRV
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Description:
The Stryker vehicle is the result of lessons learned by the US Army during the Gulf War in 1991. Current light divisions are deployable but they can not stand up armored forces. On the other hand, current heavy divisions equipped with Abrams and Bradley tanks can defeat any armored forces but they need months to be deployed (the US Army requested 6 months to build up the heavy forces that defeated Saddam Hussein). The Stryker meets both requirements deployability/mobility, and lethality/survivability.
The Stryker armored vehicle weighs no more than 38,000 pounds, can be airlifted via a single C-130 aircraft, and has enough armor to stop small arms fire. There are 10 variants of the Stryker vehicle: Infantry Carrier Vehicle, Mobile Gun System, Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicle, Reconnaissance Vehicle, Fire Support Vehicle, Engineer Squad Vehicle, Mortar Carrier Vehicle, Commander's Vehicle, Medical Evacuation Vehicle, and the NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle. Each vehicle provides all around 14.5mm integral protection, RPG-protection through add-on armor, overhead 152mm HE airburst and NBC protection, as well as individual crew respirators and reduced thermal and acoustic signatures.
The US Army plans to procure up to 2,131 Stryker vehicles to equip 6 Interim Brigades Combat Teams (IBCT) through 2008. The estimated cost of the Stryker, originally named Interim Armored Vehicle (IAV), program is $4 billion. Each Interim Brigade will feature more than 300 Stryker vehicles and the first one (3rd brigade, 2nd infantry division) will achieve operational capability in 2003.
The Stryker Mobile Gun System (MGS) features a M68A1E4 105mm gun capable of firing all NATO ammunition. In addition, the MGS features a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and a commander's 12.7mm machine gun. The crew of 3-man comprises driver, commander and gunner (the 105mm cannon has an auto loader). Stryker MGS low rate initial production was approved by the Pentagon (US Army) on Thursday, October 14, 2004.
In April 2004, the Canadian Department of National Defence approved a plan to purchase 66 Stryker Mobile Gun Systems to be modified in the areas of communications, navigation and logistics support to meet the requirements of Canadian Armed Forces. In October 2004, the Canadian Department of National Defence awarded General Dynamics a $4 million contract to conduct engineering works on the Stryker MGS.
On December 2, 2004, General Dynamics Land Systems was awarded a $260 million contract for 95 Stryker combat vehicles, including 14 mobile gun systems; 17 NBC vehicles; 25 infantry; and 39 mortar carrier vehicles. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in January 2005 and will continue through February 2006.
In mid-December 2005 General Dynamics Land Systems announced that the US Army took delivery of the first two of 72 Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Stryker MGS in Anniston Army Depot, Alabama.
Specifications
Accommodation: Crew 3
Guns: Main Gun Caliber 105 mm
Number of Weapons: 18
Dimensions: Height 2.6 m, Length 7.0 m, Width 2.7 m
Weights: Max Weight 18,734 kg (41,301 lb)
Performance: Cross Country Speed 20 mps (39 kt), Max Range 483 km (261 nm), Top Speed 28 mps (54 kt)
Power: Power 350 shp
Other: Wheels 8
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Canada / 66 
United States of America / 134 