Stryker

Manufacturer:

General Dynamics [GD] is developing a family of 10 Stryker vehicles.

Characteristics:

The Stryker family of eight-wheel drive, armored troop transport vehicles consists of The Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV), the Commanderís Vehicle (CV) the Reconnaissance Vehicle (RV), the Fire Support Vehicle (FSV), the Engineer Squad Vehicle (ESV), the Medical Evacuation Vehicle (MEV), the Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicle (ATGM), the Mobile Gun System (MGS), the Nuclear Biological and Chemical reconnaissance (NBC RV) vehicle and the Mounted Mortar carrier (MM CV). The vehicles can travel at speeds up to 62 mph on highways, with a range of 312 miles. They operates with the latest C4ISR equipment, including Northrop Grummanís [NOC] Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2), General Dynamicís 105mm tank cannon on the MGS, as well as detectors for nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. The first SBCT is deployed in Iraq. The Stryker vehicles have General Dynamicsí slat armor to defeat rocket propelled grenade attack against the vehicles. Later this spring, reactive armor kits, built by United Defense [UDI], will start delivery. The second brigade is training and preparing for its certification this spring.

Combat Use:

The 19-ton Stryker fills an immediate requirement to equip a strategically deployable brigade aboard Boeingís [BA] C-5 and Lockheed Martinís [LMT] C-17 and operationally deployable on Lockheed Martinís C-130. The brigade is able to move rapidly anywhere in the world and unload ready for combat.

Foreign Users:

There are no foreign participants in the Stryker program, or plans to sell them to other nations at this time.

Analysis:

In November 2000, General Dynamics and General Motors [GM] defense unit, a contract worth potentially $4 billion to equip six Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCTs) with 2,131 Stryker vehicles, based on the GM Light Armored Vehicle (LAV III). Subsequently in March 2003, GD bought the General Motors defense unit. As of January 2004, eight configurations of Stryker vehicles have been delivered to the first two SBCTs, with deliveries to the third brigade beginning in February. The MGS and NBC RV are still in development and are expected to face initial production decisions this year. Also, an enhanced Mounted Mortar Carrier vehicle is being prepared to replace the current Mortar Carrier Vehicle. A green light for full-rate production on seven Stryker vehicle configurations is expected at a Defense Acquisition Board review Feb. 20. This approval would authorize the Army to complete production of these vehicles for all six brigades. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Dec. 8, 2003 approved Army plans for improvements to the final two Stryker brigades. Program specifics must be detailed to the Defense acquisition executive in June. These enhancements, such as communications and networking go beyond the Stryker vehicles to ensure the SBCTs can be networked with associated programs such as the Boeing [BA]- Sikorsky [UTX] RAH-66 Comanche helicopter.