General Dynamics to unveil latest Stryker at AUSA

General Dynamics Land Systems

General Dynamics to unveil latest Stryker at AUSA: 

General Dynamics Land Systems will unveil the new Stryker A1 Medium Calibre Weapon System variant at the Association of the United States Army’s (AUSA) Annual Meeting & Exposition.

The new variant features a 30mm cannon that was successfully lived-fired last month. In May of this year, the US Army selected five companies – General Dynamics, Kollsman, Leonardo, Raytheon and Pratt & Miller – to integrate the increased firepower cannon on the Stryker.

General Dynamics described the new medium calibre Stryker as ‘the next generation of the Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle Dragoon (ICVD)’ which is currently in use with the US Army 2nd Cavalry Regiment based in Vilseck, Germany.

In a press release, the company said: “It provides a solution for the army’s operational need for greater lethality in the Stryker fleet. This low-risk, proven solution is ready to meet the army’s programme timelines.”

The US Army has been looking to increase the strength of the Stryker, including integrating different non-conventional weapons platforms. This push for an upgraded Stryker has also seen vehicles testing directed energy weapons systems.

The upgrade of the Stryker fleet became necessary after Russian military involvement in Ukraine posed a threat to NATO allies in Eastern Europe. Equivalent Russian vehicles in the region outgunned the US Stryker creating the need for boosted capabilities.

The Stryker first entered service in 2002 and has been used heavily by the US Military ever since, being deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan and by Special Forces in the fight against IS. Around a third of the US’s infantry forces use the Stryker.

Speaking at the 2019 Maneuver Warfighter Conference US Army Colonel Syd Hills said upgrades to the platform would help it keep up with ‘near-peer’ competitors.

The US Army also previously said: “Strykers have seen extensive service in the post-9/11 era, but the army has seen a need to prepare them for the battlefield challenges they’d face in combat against near-peer military adversaries.”

The eight-wheeled vehicle has seen numerous variants since its first deployment including anti-tank, infantry carrying, reconnaissance, and mortar variants. The new General Dynamics system will use a ‘double-v’ hull to increase protection from mines and improvised explosive devices.

Other systems General Dynamics is set to showcase at AUSA include the Iron Fist Light Active Protection System (APS) to defend vehicles from incoming threats, and the XM1113 Rocket Assisted Projectile (RAP) which will increase artillery range to up to 40km.

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