The Stryker combat vehicle is an eight-wheeled, highly versatile and deployable platform used by the U.S. Army’s Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT). The vehicle is designed for rapid deployment and high mobility across various terrains, offering strategic and operational flexibility to combatant commanders.
Armament:
- The Stryker can be equipped with either an M2 .50 caliber machine gun or an MK19 40mm grenade launcher mounted on a Protector Remote Weapon Station (RWS).
- Additionally, it can have a .50-cal M2 machine gun and an M240 7.62 mm machine gun.
Key Features:
- Deployability: The Stryker can be transported by C-17 or C-5 aircraft for strategic deployment and by C-130 aircraft for operational deployment, allowing for rapid movement to different global locations.
- Weight and Mobility: Significantly lighter and more transportable than traditional tanks and armored vehicles, the Stryker can achieve speeds exceeding 60 miles per hour with a range of over 300 miles on 53 gallons of fuel.
- Crew and Troop Capacity: The Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) variant carries a nine-man infantry squad and a crew of two.
- Protection: The Stryker features robust armor protection capable of withstanding 14.5mm projectiles and 152mm artillery airburst, with optional upgrades for RPG protection.
- Variability: It includes two main variants—the Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) and the Mobile Gun System (MGS)—and eight additional configurations like the Mortar Carrier (MC), Reconnaissance Vehicle (RV), and Medical Evacuation Vehicle (MEV), among others.
Historical Context:
- Named after two Medal of Honor recipients, Pfc. Stuart S. Stryker (WWII) and Spc. Robert F. Stryker (Vietnam), the vehicle was officially named “Stryker” in a ceremony at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on February 27, 2002.
- The Stryker family emphasizes performance and commonality to reduce logistics and sustainment costs, using the same engine as the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV).
Production and Deployment:
- A total of 2,112 Strykers will be fielded to the six SBCTs and training bases, with the first systems delivered in February 2002. Production includes eight configurations, with the MGS and NBCRV variants in development for delivery starting in 2004.
Operational Highlights:
- Designed for easy maneuverability in close and urban terrain, the Stryker enhances the SBCT’s operational and tactical flexibility.
- The vehicle’s integral C4ISR capability ensures it is well-suited for network-centric warfare, while its self-deployment and self-recovery capabilities further enhance its operational readiness and adaptability.
