US Army Finally Has Its New Stryker Armed With Deadly Weapons

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The army has received its first hellfire and stinger missile armed striker vehicle to bring a new era of air and missile defense to fast-moving attack units by killing enemy drones, helicopters and incoming missiles. The vehicles in development for quite some time through an army deal with general dynamics land systems are intended to bring back a cold war-era emphasis upon air and missile defenses, with a uniquely modern and high-tech attack possibility.

General Dynamics Land Systems is now delivering the first handful of nine prototype vehicles it is on contract to provide the army. The new ims horad or short-range air defense strikers are armed with vertically launched longbow hellfire missiles and stinger missiles. Along with a new 30 millimeters cannon intended to bring a new level of lethality to striker units supporting attacking infantry units.

Working with the army, we selected the armaments due to the lack of an ability to defeat rotary wing and UAVs. The interceptors were selected upon the threat we anticipate. kendall linson manager of business development general dynamics land systems. The first General Dynamics Land Systems IM-SHORAD striker is being unveiled at the 2019 association of the united states army annual symposium.

The newly armed striker Lynson explained introduces new dimensions to armored vehicle gun attack. It is not a traditional turret, it is a rotating weapon station that is remotely operated inside the vehicle, linson said.

Air defense weapons on the striker address of previously absent counter air combat potential for striker vehicles, which when armed with shorad weapons, have an ability to sense and destroy enemy drones, helicopters low-flying aircraft and even some approaching missiles. Senior army weapons developers explain it this way, during the cold war when the us faced a soviet threat, ground-launched air defense was naturally a huge priority, something which atrophied during 15 years of counter insurgency.

Accordingly the shorad program coupled with a more powerful 30 millimeters cannon, vehicle-launched attack drones and fast evolving laser weapons represents a deliberate effort to further transition armored combat platforms into the often discussed great power threat environment. Compared to an existing m 2.50 cal machine gun mounted on strikers, the new 30 millimeters weapon is designed to improve both range and lethality for the vehicle.

The new gun can fire at least twice as far as a .50 cal machine gun. General Dynamics Land Systems developers told warrior, the striker's fire control system which includes a remote weapon station targeting screen and manual controls, received the radar camera fused information before tracking and locking on to the target.

The target tracking, lock-on and fire functions are managed by a control stick and soft switches on the screen, allowing the gunner to slew the weapon onto the target. As a result ground infantry supported by armored vehicles will have more mobile air defenses to address closer in air threats. This is where the stryker SHORAD comes in infantry does not have the same fires or ground mobility as an armored striker and handheld anti-aircraft weapons such as a stinger would not have the same defensive or attack impact as a hellfire or stinger armed striker.

In a large mechanized engagement advancing infantry needs fortified armored support able to cross bridges and maneuver alongside foot soldiers. The patriot missile for instance is better suited to hit incoming mid-range ballistic missiles and other attacking threats. While mobile a patriot might have less of an ability to support infantry by attacking fast-moving enemy helicopters and drones.

An emphasis upon deployability, mobility and expeditionary warfare maneuvers are indispensable to the army's striker deployment strategy. Striker brigades able to move long distances at 60 mph can offer a counter measure or equivalent to rapid russian mobilization. 

Demonstrating this mobility was a primary focus of the army's dragoon ride several years ago wherein army striker units conducted extensive convoy movements across eastern europe while conducting interoperability exercises with nato allies. In a 2016 survey of russian elites 82.3 percent responded that the national interests of russia. For the most part extend beyond its existing territory, up from 43.3 in 2012 and 64 percent in 2008, the study states.

The rand report written by Rafael Cohen and Andrew Radden also cites what could be called a russian paranoia or fear of nato threats near its borders. Russia has felt perennially vulnerable and has often displayed a kind of defensive aggressiveness smaller countries on russia's borders are viewed less as potential friends than as potential beachheads for enemies. The report writes citing princeton professor stephen cotkin as the source.

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