THE US ARMY'S responsibility to satisfy 21st-century requirements for effective, full-spectrum, strategic responsiveness demands a much improved capability for the rapid deployment of highly integrated, combined arms forces possessing overmatching capabilities, exploiting the power of information and human potential and combining the advantages of both light and mechanised forces across the full range of military operations.

Meeting these requirements and providing warfighting CINCs with an important new option for decisive contingency response, is the central near-term objective of the US Army's decision to develop full spectrum, medium-weight brigades that are known as the interim brigade combat teams (IBCT). Stryker is now the combat vehicle of first choice for the US Army's IBCTs that will help the army transform to the Objective Force by improving its ability to deploy, survive and sustain its forces against the new threats introduced with the 21st century.

The Stryker is named after two US Army soldiers with that name who were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for their courage above and beyond the call of duty in World War II and in Vietnam. The Stryker is critical in helping the IBCT bridge the gap between US Army light and heavy forces. It possesses the deployabilty and sustainability associated with light forces and the lethality and survivability common to heavy forces. A total of 309 Strykers make up the IBCT. There are two variants of the Stryker, the infantry carrier vehicle and the mobile guns system (MGS). The primary design of the Stryker is found in the basic infantry carrier vehicle.

This troop transport vehicle is quite capable of carrying nine infantry soldiers and their equipment plus a crew of two, a driver and a vehicle commander. There are eight other variants of the ICV that will provide comprehensive combat service and combat-service support activities including a command vehicle, a reconnaissance vehicle, a fire-support vehicle, a mortar carrier, an anti-tank guided-missile vehicle, an engineer support vehicle, a medical evacuation vehicle and a nuclear, biological and chemical reconnaissance vehicle. The MGS will be modified to incorporate a 105mm turreted gun and autoloader system. Stryker will greatly reduce the amount of inventory and logistical support for combat brigades while at the same time increasing their ability to deploy.

The US Army is purchasing 2,131 Strykers. The first of these will go to five designated IBCTs, one interim cavalry regiment (ICR), and to the institutional army. The sooner the IBCT is operating the better able will be the US Army to defend America's interests against threats across the full spectrum of military operations. The first Stryker brigade combat team (SBCT) to transform will be 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, followed by 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division and 172d Separate Brigade in Alaska. After all evaluations are completed a Milestone C decision will determine whether the US Army will move forward towards fielding the remaining three SBCTs. These will consist of the 2nd Armor Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division and the 56th Brigade, 28th Infantry Division (PA National Guard).

The primary contractor is GM-GDLS Defense Group LLC (Joint Venture) with several major sub-contractors providing key support for the Stryker vehicle variants. The US Army Acquisition and Procurement objective for six SBCTs is 2,131 Stryker vehicles at an estimated cost of $4.2bn. Stryker infantry carrier vehicle (ICV) armament consist of an M2 .50 cal machine gun or MK19 grenade launcher providing a considerable amount of firepower at stand-of ranges from enemy small arms fire, enhancing the ability of an infantry squad to close with and destroy the enemy.

The Stryker ICV weapons system utilises a remote weapons system (RWS) allowing a vehicle commander to remain protected while employing thermal optics to locate and engage targets. Stryker vehicles will provide Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) situational understanding within the tactical echelons to enable substantially increased combat effectiveness.

Preparing the initial brigade combat team to meet an initial operational capability (IOC) is a complex and demanding undertaking. The 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (IBCT), the I Corps staff, The United States Army Infantry School (USAIS), TRADOC's Brigade Coordination Cell and a host of supporting organisations at Fort Lewis have optimised an array of training, digitisation and re-organisation opportunities that apply in these circumstances to transforming 3rd Brigade from a heavy brigade to a medium-weight brigade.

As part of this undertaking, the US Army has taken a heavy brigade, integrated 54 specific and initially independent systems, fielded more than 7,500 pieces of different or new equipment, and invested more than 23,000 soldier-training days to get the brigade on track to meet the approved acquisition timeline. Eighteen months ago the idea of a forced entry by an airborne force followed by early entry by an SBCT, was a conceptual theory only. However, during Millennium Challenge 02, a unit of the 82d Airborne Division and a unit from SBCT demonstrated the execution of this powerful capability in support of the strategic objectives and campaign plan of the Joint Commander.

In just 45 days, A Company, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry went from Stryker New Equipment Training (NET) fielding to the National Training Center (NTC). The Stryker Company was then deployed by C130 into an austere flight-landing strip as part of a dynamic early-entry operation conducted in tough terrain, and in extremely hot desert weather conditions against a resilient, unforgiving future operational environment opposing force (OPFOR). The exercise was extremely successful and clearly demonstrated the potential capabilities of the Stryker brigade combat team.

Millennium Challenge 02 demonstrated the ability of the Stryker to deploy by C17 and C130 aircraft and by theatre sealift vessel (TSV). During Millennium Challenge 02, the Stryker unit twice conducted movement by five C130s to deploy a Stryker Platoon with four Strykers, crews and four infantry combat squads with all of their assigned weapons and equipment. Normally, Stryker unit offloads were with C130 engines running, and in these situations, Stryker vehicles were operationally ready within just 15 minutes.