BTR Stryker for Ukraine
M1126 Stryker armored personnel carrier
In recent days, foreign states have begun to more actively discuss the possibility of sending their armored vehicles to Ukraine. Thus, the United States has already announced the transfer of infantry fighting vehicles, while other countries do not exclude the possibility of supplying infantry fighting vehicles and tanks. In addition, it became known that Washington is discussing the hypothetical transfer of Stryker armored personnel carriers. If an appropriate decision is made, then such equipment may already be included in the next package of military-technical assistance.
According to the press
The possible delivery of the Strykers was reported on January 9 by the American publication Politico. It received information about the relevant discussions from unnamed representatives of the US Department of Defense who are familiar with the situation. At the same time, there is no official information on this subject yet. A Pentagon spokesman effectively declined to comment.
Politico's sources reported that the composition of the next military-technical assistance packages for Ukraine is now being discussed in the United States. In particular, the possibility of allocating and sending a certain number of armored personnel carriers of the Stryker line is being considered. Discussions of this kind have not yet been completed and a decision has not yet been taken.
The discussion may end as soon as possible. Thus, sources do not exclude that the Strykers will be included in the next aid package. It is planned to be approved and disclosed at the end of next week - against the background of the next meeting of the NATO contact group. At the same time, it is not excluded that the supply of armored personnel carriers will be included only in the next package, the timing of which is not yet known.
Politico writes that Stryker armored vehicles are considered as another means of increasing the mobility and combat capability of Ukrainian armed formations. For obvious reasons, the Kyiv regime's need for armored vehicles is constantly growing, and it is planned to cover part of such needs with American armored personnel carriers.
In addition, Washington and Kyiv fear that the Russian army will launch a new offensive in the near future. In this case, the armored vehicles from the new aid packages will have to strengthen the Ukrainian defense.
It is curious that the Ukrainian formations already have armored vehicles similar to the American Strykers. Back in July, Canada promised to transfer to the Kyiv regime 39 LAV ACSV armored personnel carriers, made on the same base as the Stryker. The delivery of this equipment encountered some difficulties, but recently it was noticed in the war zone.
Family member
The Stryker project was developed by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) in the late nineties. His goal was to create a unified wheeled armored platform and a number of combat and auxiliary vehicles based on it. The new platform was made on the basis of the existing LAV III armored vehicle, previously developed for Canada based on the Swiss Piranha armored personnel carrier.
By the beginning of the 2000s, several variants of the Stryker had been tested and were recommended for adoption. In 2001-4,5 The Pentagon has placed orders for the production of ca. 1126 thousand armored vehicles of different versions. For the ground forces, they purchased M1296 armored personnel carriers, M1127 infantry fighting vehicles, M1128 reconnaissance vehicles, MXNUMX fire support vehicles, etc.
Deliveries of vehicles of the Stryker line were accompanied by a change in the organizational structure and equipment of the troops. Such equipment entered service with the so-called. medium brigades and gave them high mobility and wide combat capabilities.
In 2003, units on the "Strykers" took part in the invasion of Iraq. They continued combat work and duty almost until the withdrawal of American forces from Iraqi territory. During the operation in the framework of a real military operation, armored vehicles received an ambiguous assessment. There was a fairly high level of protection, good mobility and ease of use. At the same time, the equipment did not protect the crews from all threats, and attempts to improve protection had a negative impact on other parameters.
It is noteworthy that the armored vehicles of the Stryker family were produced only for the US ground forces. For foreign customers, GDLS offered other unified designs, but not the original Strykers. If the American leadership makes an appropriate decision in the near future, then Ukraine will become the first foreign recipient of such equipment.
Technical features
All samples of the Stryker family are built on the basis of a unified wheeled platform, but receive different equipment and weapons. Such a platform has a steel welded mid-engine hull and an all-wheel drive four-axle undercarriage. In front of the car is the driver, in the stern - troops or special equipment.
The body's own armor in the frontal projection provides level 4 protection according to the STANAG 4569 standard (against 14,5 mm bullets). The rest of the parts can withstand 7,62 mm rifle bullets (level 3). It is planned to install hinged Mexas armor, thanks to which the forehead can withstand small-caliber projectiles. Part of the "Strikers" is equipped with active protection Iron Curtain.
The platform is equipped with a 3126 hp Caterpillar 350 diesel engine. With a combat weight of at least 17 tons, the vehicles of the family are capable of speeds up to 95-97 km / h on the highway and move over rough terrain. Due to the high mass, the cars do not float; water barriers are overcome along fords up to 1,2 m deep.
"Stryker" with KAZ Iron Curtain
In the modification of the armored personnel carrier, the Stryker carries a remotely controlled weapon station with a normal or large caliber machine gun or an automatic grenade launcher. Other modifications of the vehicle can carry a small-caliber gun, 105 mm rifled gun, 120 mm mortar, TOW missiles, etc. The effective use of weapons is provided by the "battlefield control system" FBCB2.
No clear benefits
Despite the identified shortcomings and well-known criticism, the Stryker family of armored vehicles remains in service with the US Army, although it was decided to abandon individual samples. These machines still retain certain advantages, and the Pentagon is going to continue to use their potential.
In the near future, a number of such armored vehicles may go to Ukraine. The decision has not yet been made, but it is already clear that the results of such assistance will not meet expectations. The Kyiv regime simply will not be able to use the potential of foreign cars - and they will not affect the overall course of events.
Probably, the number of Strykers planned for delivery does not exceed a few dozen. This will not be enough even to partially make up for the losses of recent months and restore the potential of motorized infantry. The restoration of the fleet requires hundreds of armored vehicles, and with delivery in a short time. But Kyiv should not expect this.
One of the goals of the American project was the maximum unification of a variety of equipment, allowing you to get certain benefits. Ukrainian formations will not receive such advantages - also due to the small number of Stryker armored vehicles. Moreover, obtaining another foreign sample will further complicate the supply and maintenance.
Technically and in terms of combat characteristics, the Stryker in the armored personnel carrier version is not something unique or special. Due to the wheeled chassis, such an armored personnel carrier has high mobility and mobility, but only if there is a road network. The modular construction of armor allows you to protect yourself from various receiver systems, but does not provide protection against anti-tank weapons. The proposed weapons for a full-time DBM have limited firepower and are virtually useless against armored vehicles.
In general, the Stryker armored personnel carrier is a good vehicle in its class and is capable of solving the intended tasks. However, combat work in the face of active opposition from a developed enemy is associated with great risks. At the same time, it is highly likely that the wrecked vehicles will not be able to be restored and returned to service - due to the presence of additional logistical and organizational problems.
With unclear prospects
Thus, there is a specific and curious situation. It is still not known for certain whether the United States will send its wheeled armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. Also, the timing of the transfer, the amount of equipment, etc. are in question. Perhaps information on this subject will appear next week, against the background of the next meeting of the NATO contact group.
However, it is already clear that help in the form of "Strikers" has a very limited potential and will not allow solving all the urgent problems of Ukrainian formations. Nevertheless, the United States intends to support the Kyiv regime with the supply of weapons and equipment. And now, having exhausted foreign stocks of Soviet-style equipment, they will reduce their own fleet of armored vehicles.
- Ryabov Kirill
- The US Department of Defense
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