Meet the Stryker: US army’s badass armored fighting vehicles

The Stryker is a family of eight-wheeled, armored vehicles used by the United States Army and other militaries worldwide. The Stryker was first introduced in 2002 and is named after two Medal of Honor recipients: Pfc. Stuart S. Stryker and Spc. Robert F. Stryker.

The United States Army developed the Stryker in the late 1990s as part of the Army's ongoing transformation into a more agile and flexible force capable of responding to a wide range of threats worldwide. The program to develop the Stryker was known as the Interim Armored Vehicle (IAV) program. It was intended to provide the Army with a family of vehicles that could be quickly and easily deployed to various theaters of operation.

The Stryker was designed to fill the gap between heavily armored vehicles, such as tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and light-wheeled vehicles, such as the Humvee. It was intended to provide the Army with a highly mobile and versatile vehicle for various missions, including troop transport, reconnaissance, combat support, and more.

The Stryker entered service with the United States Army in 2002, and it has since been used in a variety of conflicts and missions around the world. The vehicle has been continuously improved and upgraded, with new variants and configurations developed to meet changing operational requirements.

As of 2021, the number of Stryker armored vehicles built is not publicly available. However, it is known that the United States Army has acquired over 4,700 Strykers in various configurations, including the infantry carrier vehicle, the mobile gun system, and the anti-tank guided missile vehicle.

In addition to the U.S. Army, several other countries, including Canada, Thailand, and Australia, have also purchased the Stryker.

Several manufacturers, including General Dynamics Land Systems and Oshkosh Corporation, have produced the Stryker. Production of the Stryker began in the late 1990s and has continued in several batches over the years, with new variants and upgrades being introduced as needed.

The Stryker has been used in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, proving to be a highly effective and reliable vehicle. It has been credited with saving the lives of many soldiers through its superior protection and mobility, and it has become a key component of the United States Army's rapid response capabilities. Today, the Stryker remains in service with the United States Army, as well as with several other militaries around the world.

The Stryker is designed to be highly mobile and versatile, with various variants that can be configured for various missions, including troop transport, reconnaissance, combat support, and more. It is built on a common platform easily customized with various modular components, including weapons systems, communications equipment, and other mission-specific hardware.

The Stryker is heavily armored and features a range of advanced technologies and systems designed to protect the crew and passengers from small arms fire, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and other threats. It is powered by a diesel engine and can travel up to 60 mph (97 km/h) on paved roads.

In the future, the Stryker is likely to undergo further improvements, notably in its armaments. While the Stryker is already equipped with a range of weapons systems, including a 30mm cannon and a variety of machine guns, there may be a need for more powerful and advanced weapons.

This could involve the development of new gun systems or integrating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or other unmanned systems for increased situational awareness and firepower.

Overall, the Stryker is likely to remain a key component of the United States Army's armored vehicle fleet for many years to come.