Stryker is a family of eight-wheel-drive combat vehicles built for the US Army by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) – Canada and the General Dynamics Land Systems Division, US.
Stryker is available in ten variants, including an infantry carrier vehicle, a commander’s vehicle, a medical evacuation vehicle, a fire support vehicle, an engineer squad vehicle, an anti-tank guided missile carrier, a mortar carrier, a reconnaissance vehicle, a mobile gun system and nuclear, biological and chemical reconnaissance vehicle.
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The vehicle is based on the GDLS Canada LAV III 8×8 light armoured vehicle, in service since early 2001. The LAV III itself is a version of the Piranha III built by Mowag of Switzerland, now part of GDLS – Europe.
The eight-wheeled Stryker armoured combat vehicle is the first new military vehicle to enter service in the US Army since the Abrams tank in the 1980s.
Fabrication and final assembly of the vehicles were shared among plants at Anniston in Alabama, Lima in Ohio and London in Ontario. The vehicles were upgraded with a double-V hull to provide soldiers with additional protection against mines and improvised explosive devices.
In April 2024, GDLS received a contract worth $518.8m from the US Army to provide technical support for Stryker vehicles. The estimated date of completion of the contract is March 2029.
Stryker brigade combat team (SBCT)
The Stryker brigade combat team (SBCT) combines the capacity for rapid deployment with survivability and tactical mobility. The Stryker armoured combat 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 formed the basis of six brigade combat teams. The contract requirement covered the supply of 2,131 vehicles.
Stryker infantry carrier development
Deliveries of Stryker infantry carriers began in April 2002. Initial operational tests and evaluation began in May 2003 with the Arrowhead Lightning II exercise. Since 2003, the vehicles underwent more than six million miles in service through two Operational Iraqi Freedom rotations, demonstrating a combined fleet operational readiness rate of 96%.
In November 2003, the Stryker armoured combat vehicle entered operational service with the US Army, with the first Stryker SBCT, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, following its deployment to Iraq. The second SBCT, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, was deployed to Iraq in September 2004. The third SBCT, the 172nd, deployed in July 2005.
Stryker armour upgrades
In March 2005, BAE Systems Land and Armaments (formerly United Defense) won a contract to supply 289 reactive armour kits for the Stryker. In July 2010, GDLS received a $30m contract from the US Army to create a dual V-shaped hull for the Stryker, which was completed by February 2012.
In December 2010, GDLS secured a $9.6m contract to provide 350 Strykers with electronic video display kits and a separate $9.9m contract for the procurement and installation of Stryker shields. In May 2014, GDLS was awarded a $163m contract to convert 93 flat-bottom Stryker vehicles to the improved DVH design by the US Army.
The US Army granted GDLS a $258m contract modification to upgrade 116 flat-bottom Stryker vehicles to the Stryker A1 configuration in June 2018. The new configuration includes a 450hp engine, 60,000lb suspension, a 910-amp alternator and an in-vehicle network. In October 2018, GDLS received a $383m contract modification to upgrade an additional 173 Stryker vehicles to the A1 configuration.
The US Army is also modifying the Stryker vehicles with sensors and weapons to meet the requirements of an interim Manoeuvre-Short-Range Air Defence (IM-SHORAD).
Stryker medical evacuation vehicle (MEV)
In March 2009, the US Army deployed the Stryker medical evacuation vehicle (MEV), a new ambulance variant, with 30 MEVs delivered to the 3rd Infantry Division’s 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team for use in the Middle East.
The US Army TACOM awarded a contract worth $55.2m to GDLS to reset 330 Stryker infantry combat vehicles in July 2009. Under this contract, the Stryker vehicles returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom were serviced, repaired and modified, returning them to a like-new condition before further deployment.
In October 2009, the US Army TACOM signed a $647m contract with GDLS for the supply of 352 Stryker vehicles, followed by an order for 450 DVH Stryker vehicles in July 2010, with more than 300 delivered by October 2011.
In October 2011, GDLS received a $243m contract from US Army TACOM to supply 115 DVH Stryker vehicles by September 2012, along with an additional order of 177 DVH Stryker vehicles under a $367m contract placed in the same month.
Stryker variants
Stryker variants include the M1126 infantry carrier vehicle (ICV) and the M1128 mobile gun system (MGS). Other ICV configurations are the M1135 NBCR vehicle, the M1134 anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), the M1133 medical evacuation vehicle (MEV), the M1129 mortar carrier (MC), the M1132 engineer squad vehicle (ESV), the M1130 command vehicle (CV), the M1131 fire support vehicle (FSV) and the M1127 reconnaissance vehicle (RV).
The reconnaissance vehicle is fitted with the Raytheon long-range advanced scout surveillance system. The system includes a second-generation horizontal technology initiative thermal imager, day TV and eye-safe laser rangefinder. The US Army is to enhance the system by lengthening the sensor mast to 10m, increasing the range to 10km.
The mortar carrier (MCV-B) was introduced in August 2005. It houses a 120mm mortar that fires through top-swinging doors. Additionally, the vehicle carries a second mortar that needs unloading before firing. The MCV-B includes a digital fire control system and operates with a crew of five.
The first LRIP NBCR variant was delivered in December 2005. The system can gather and integrate contamination data with vehicle navigation and meteorological sensor information, transmitting digital warnings to other forces.
The US Army placed a contract for 33 medical evacuation vehicles (MEV) in September 2007. The MEV can accommodate up to six patients and a medical team.
Stryker infantry carrier vehicle details
The Stryker is an armoured vehicle with full-time four-wheel drive and selective eight-wheel drive, weighing around 19t. It can reach speeds of up to 100km/h on roads and has a maximum range of 502km.
The basic ICV offers protection for a two-man crew and 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 14.5mm protection against machine gun rounds, mortar, and artillery fragments.
In Iraq in January 2004, Stryker vehicles were equipped with slat armour to defend against rocket-propelled grenades.
Stryker armoured combat vehicle weapons and self-protection
The ICV has a protector remote weapon station, from Kongsberg Protech of Norway, with a universal soft mount cradle, which can mount either a 0.50-calibre M2 machine gun, MK19 40mm grenade launcher or MK240 7.62mm machine gun. It is also armed with four M6 smoke grenade launchers.
In August 2005, Kongsberg awarded BAE Systems a contract to supply the TIM1500 640×480 uncooled thermal imaging camera for the remote weapon station.
The vehicle’s commander utilises an FBCB2 digital communications system for inter-vehicle communication through text messaging and a map network, as well as communication with the battalion. The system displays the position of all vehicles on the battlefield and allows the commander to mark enemy positions on the map, visible to other commanders. The FBCB2 system includes the Raytheon AN/TSQ-158 enhanced position location reporting system.
The Stryker driver has three M-17 periscopes and a DRS Technologies AN/VAS-5 driver’s vision enhancer. The vehicle commander has seven M45 periscopes and a thermal imager display with a video camera.
In February 2009, BAE Systems was awarded a production contract for the Check-6 thermal imaging driver’s rear-view camera system for the Stryker ICV. The system is fitted to the vehicle’s taillight housing. Deliveries began in April 2009.
Stryker mobile gun system
Eight pre-production Stryker mobile gun systems were delivered to the US Army between July 2002 and March 2003, with LRIP of 72 additional variants starting at General Dynamics Anniston facility. The first was delivered in December 2005.
The MGS entered service with the US Army in May 2007, with the first operational deployment to Iraq with the 4th brigade, 2nd Division.
By November 2007, three Stryker brigades had received the MGS. A production contract for 62 vehicles was placed in August 2008.
The Canadian Army initially planned to acquire 66 Stryker MGS to replace Leopard 1 tanks but later decided to acquire surplus Leopard 2 tanks instead.
The Stryker MGS variant features a GDLS fully stabilised shoot-on-the-move low-profile turret, armed with an M68A1E4 105mm cannon with muzzle brake and an M2 0.50-calibre commander’s machine gun. It 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 MGS includes C4ISR communications and driver’s vision equipment similar to the ICV, with the gunner having three periscopes and a compact modular sight with dual field of view day and thermal channels. It also features detectors for nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.
The commonality across the Stryker family of vehicles provides an advantage to brigade combat teams, reducing logistics requirements compared to other vehicles like the 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.
Orders and deliveries of Stryker armoured combat vehicle
Contracts for 328 vehicles for the 4th Brigade were placed in March and June 2004. 423 additional vehicles were ordered for the 5th Brigade in February 2005.
In 2006, orders were placed for a total of 518 Stryker vehicles, with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan following in subsequent years. The US Air Force’s first Stryker unit was deployed to Iraq in August 2005.
In December 2008, the Iraqi Government requested the foreign military sale of 400 Stryker infantry carrier vehicles.
The deliveries were completed between April and June 2009. In March 2009, JWF Defense Systems was awarded a $4.8m contract by GDLS to produce 805 Stryker driver enhancement kits. Deliveries were completed by June 2009.
Thailand requested to buy 60 Stryker infantry carrier vehicles as well as associated equipment for an estimated cost of $175m in July 2019.
In October 2020, GDLS received a $1.21bn contract to deliver IM-SHORAD systems to the US Army.
In November 2022, GDLS secured a $146m contract for the supply of flat-bottom hull Stryker vehicles, to the US Army with an estimated completion date of November 2024.
In June 2023, the company secured a $712.3m order from the US Army to supply 300 Stryker DVHA1 vehicles, to improve survivability and capability in Stryker brigades. The order comes under a five-year contract signed in 2020 with an option for a sixth year.
The US government gave its approval for the sale of 183 Stryker family of vehicles to Bulgaria, valued at $1.5bn, in September 2023.
In February 2024, GDLS received a $210m contract from the US Army for the procurement, warehousing, repair, and management of parts to support the Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
