Stryker Infantry Combat Vehicles:
Amid the upcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister to Washington DC, several defence deals in the pipeline are in focus, among them the deal for co-production of Stryker infantry combat vehicles.
- Stryker is a family of eight-wheel-drive combat vehicles built for the US Army.
- It was jointly developed by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), Canada and the General Dynamics Land Systems Division in the United States.
- It was the first new military vehicle inducted into US Army service since the Abrams tank in the 1980s.
- The Stryker family includes various configurations such as Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV), Mobile Gun System (MGS), medical evacuation vehicle, fire support vehicle, anti-tank guided missile carrier, and reconnaissance vehicle, among others.
- These vehicles are valued for their speed and flexibility, particularly in urban warfare and quick response scenarios.
- Stryker can be transported on the ground using trucks or by air on C-17 and C-130 aircraft already in the Indian Air Force fleet.
- Key features:
- Armament: Equipped with a 30 mm cannon and a 105 mm mobile gun
- Hull Construction: V-hull made of high-hardness steel with an additional layer of ceramic tile armor for enhanced protection
- Crew and Capacity: Operated by a two-person crew and can carry a nine-man infantry squad
- Range: 483 kilometers
- Top Speed: Approximately 100 km/h.
