Variants of the Stryker


The Stryker is a family of eight-wheeled armored fighting vehicles derived from the Canadian LAV III. Stryker vehicles are produced by General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada for the United States Army in Canada.
The Stryker was conceived as a family of vehicles forming the backbone of a new medium-weight brigade combat team that was to strike a balance between armored brigade combat teams and infantry brigade combat teams. The service launched the Interim Armored Vehicle competition, and in 2000, the service selected the LAV III proposed by GDLS and General Motors Defense. The service named this family of vehicles the "Stryker".
Ten variants of the Stryker were initially conceived, some of which have been upgraded with v-hulls. The Stryker chassis modular design supports a wide range of variants. Excepting the mobile gun system variant, the M1126 infantry carrier vehicle variant served as the basis for the 10 original Stryker variants.

M1126 infantry carrier vehicle

The M1126 infantry carrier vehicle is an armored personnel carrier and part of the Stryker family of vehicles used by the United States Army and Royal Thai Army. Models with the double V-hull upgrade are known as the M1256 ICVV.
The infantry carrier vehicle provides protected transport and, during dismounted assault, supporting fire for the infantry squad. The Stryker is a full-time four-wheel drive, selectively eight-wheel drive, armored vehicle weighing approximately 19t which carries an infantry squad with their equipment. On paved roads the vehicle can attain speeds of without a governor and with a governor.
The basic infantry carrier vehicle provides armored protection for the two-man crew and a squad of nine soldiers.
The vehicle's commander has a Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below digital communications system that allows communication between vehicles through text messaging and a map network, as well as with the battalion. The map shows the position of all vehicles on the battlefield and the commander can mark the position of enemy forces on the map, which can then be seen by other commanders.
The M1126 ICV has a Protector remote weapon station with a universal soft mount cradle, which can mount either a.50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun, a 40mm MK19 grenade launcher or a 7.62×51mm NATO M240 machine gun. It is also armed with four M6 smoke grenade launchers.
Army officials plan to up-gun Stryker ICVs with a 30 mm cannon in a Kongsberg Protech Systems' Medium Caliber Remote Weapons Station, which does not extend into the crew compartment and take up space and can be loaded from inside. Test firings occurred on a Stryker demonstrator on 19 February 2014, showing increased lethality and accuracy over the standard.50-caliber machine gun at ranges from 600-1,550 meters; the 30 mm cannon is capable of hitting targets over 2,000 meters away.
After comparative testing of the Kongsberg MCRWS mounted to Strykers, the U.S. Army approved in April 2015 the equipping of 81 of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment's Strykers with 30 mm Mk44 Bushmaster II cannons following a lethality upgrade request to increase lethality against other light armor vehicles while preserving its wheeled mobility advantages. The first upgraded ICV, designated XM1296 "Dragoon", was delivered for testing on 27 October 2016, with fielding to begin in May 2018. The first infantry carrier vehicle Dragoon was delivered to the 2CR in Germany on 8 December 2017.
In April 2019, the Army decided to add cannon armament to three additional brigades of Stryker DVH ICVVA1 vehicles.

M1127 reconnaissance vehicle

The M1127 reconnaissance vehicle is currently in service with the US Army.
The RV provides a platform for RSTA squadrons and battalion scouts to perform reconnaissance and surveillance operations. The RV accommodates seven personnel, including crew.
The platform is a key enabler for both sensor and HUMINT focused surveillance and intelligence operations.
The recce troop is organized into a headquarters section, a mortar section, and three recce platoons. Each of the recce platoons is organized with four Stryker reconnaissance vehicles, mounting either a 12.7 mm M2.50 cal or a Mk 19 40 mm grenade launcher; the lead truck mounts a long range advanced scout surveillance system alongside its main weapon. Each vehicle carries a squad consisting of a 3-man vehicle crew and a 4-man scout squad for dismounted reconnaissance. Each recce squad in the platoon has assigned a human intelligence collector. The mortar section consists of four 120-mm self-propelled mortars and a fire direction center.
The MAV reconnaissance vehicle is based on the Stryker ICV variant.
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The M1128 mobile gun system mounts a 105 mm tank gun.
The MGS was procured in limited numbers by the U.S. Army. It was retired in 2022 due to design and operational deficiencies.

M1129 mortar carrier

The M1129 mortar carrier ' is in use with the United States Army. Models with the double V-hull upgrade are known as the M1252 MCVV.
The M1129 mortar carrier is based on the Stryker infantry carrier vehicle.
The first version of the M1129, the MCV-A, carried a mortar that could only be used dismounted. The M1129B fires its weapon from the mounted position within the vehicle.
The M1129 is used in the US Army Stryker brigade combat teams, where it is part of each Brigade's maneuver infantry battalion's and reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition squadron's modified table of organization and equipment. The vehicles are either organically subordinated to battalion level or company level. The battalion level vehicles are armed with the RMS6L 120 mm mortar system, which is the vehicle mounted version of the RMS6L 120 mm mortar and Cardom. Additionally, they carry the 81 mm M252 mortar that can only be used in a dismounted capacity. The company level vehicles also carry a vehicle-mounted 120 mm mortar, which is augmented by the 60 mm M224 mortar for dismounted use. The RSTA squadron only receives the 120 mm mounted mortar, there is no augmentation dismounted maneuvers. Each Stryker infantry battalion thus has a total number of 10 mortar carriers, all of which are equipped with the 120 mm system. Each Stryker RSTA battalion has a total of 6 mortar carriers, all of which are also equipped with the 120 mm system.
The first M1129 vehicles were put into service in Spring 2005 with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. The 172nd Stryker Brigade deployed to Iraq in August 2005 being the first unit to fire the M1129/MCV-B in theatre.

M1130 commander's vehicle

The M1130 commander's vehicle is an armored command vehicle. It is used within the brigade to provide means to receive information, analyze and transmit data, and control forces carrying out combat missions. Models with the double V-hull upgrade are known as the M1255 CVV.
The CV provides an operational platform for elements of command within the Stryker brigade combat team. The CV integrates the C4ISR equipment for the unit commanders. It has the ability to access aircraft power and antenna systems to plan missions while en route aboard aircraft.
Commanders must have the capability to see and direct the battle continuously, maintaining the common relevant operating picture for all friendly forces within their respective areas of operation. This enhanced situational awareness and understanding will enable commanders to synchronize and employ widely dispersed and highly mobile forces at decisive points of the operation. Initial fielding of the CV will be three platforms to the brigade headquarters, two platforms to the infantry maneuver battalion HQ, and two per infantry maneuver company within each battalion.
The CV is based on the Stryker Infantry carrier vehicle platform. The CV is an organic vehicle to the ICV maneuver formation.

M1131 fire support vehicle

The M1131 fire support vehicle provides automated enhanced surveillance, target acquisition, target identification, target tracking, target designation, position location and communications functionality. Targets will be transmitted instantly to the fire support system and shooter. Models with the double V-hull upgrade are known as the M1251 FSVV.
The FSV provides enhanced surveillance, target acquisition, target identification, target designation, and communications supporting the SBCT with ”first round“ fire-for-effect capability. It integrates the current M707 Striker Mission Equipment Package. The FSV provides the Fire Support Teams with the capability to automate command and control functions, to perform fire support planning, directing, controlling and cross-functional area coordination, and execution.
The FSV is based on the ICV variant. The FSV is an organic vehicle to the ICV maneuver formation and helps maximize commonality of the platform while simultaneously reducing the maintenance footprint and variety of logistics support.
Four combat radio nets allow secure voice and digital communications with, Initial Fire Support Automation System or Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System, the maneuver command communications, and other fire support assets. FBCB2 is required for situation awareness and maneuver force communications in distributed operations and on the non-linear battlespace.
A vehicular intercom system that enables communication on each of the four combat radio nets from each crew positions is required in the MAV-FSV. The VIS permits each of the operating stations to selectively monitor the intercommunications system and any combination of four radio receivers, while selectively transmitting on any of the radio transmitters in addition to the intercommunications system.
FS MAV must be capable of hosting the hand-held terminal unit and tactical radios for transmission of digital targeting and fire support data. Targeting data must be passed automatically to provide timely, error-free targeting information through digital means, to include spot reports providing updated situational awareness. Digital communications is required to all fire support assets to forward targeting data to the attack platforms without causing the platform operators to transcribe information and to allow for the automated processing of target, clearance, and firing data. The capability to communicate with all joint fire support assets allows the full utilization of the attack capabilities available.
Since the M1131 fire support vehicle is designed for target tracking and identification, the Army is integrating a directed energy weapon onto the version, called the mobile expeditionary high-energy laser, to defend against small and medium unmanned aerial vehicles. The laser was tested at 2 kW in April 2016, and a 5 kW version became operational in 2017, with plans to increase power to 18 kW by 2018.