India and the United States are currently engaged in advanced discussions regarding the joint manufacture of the latest generation of Stryker armoured infantry combat vehicles (ICVs). This initiative is part of a broader defence-industrial cooperation roadmap.
The US has also recently offered to demonstrate the mobility and firepower of the Stryker in high-altitude areas in India. The Indian defence ministry is examining a three-phase plan for this proposed project, reported The Times of India.
What will the project comprise?
The project will initially involve a limited off-the-shelf purchase of Strykers under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. According to TOI, This will be followed by joint production in India and, eventually, the co-development of its futuristic versions.
The entire plan is contingent on the Stryker meeting the operational requirements of the Indian Army’s mechanised infantry battalions and a high level of indigenisation, including the transfer of critical technologies to the Indian co-production partner, which could be a defence Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) or a private firm.
The Indian Army has a substantial requirement for futuristic wheeled and tracked ICVs to replace its existing fleet of over 2,000 Russian-origin BMP-II vehicles in the coming years. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is also pursuing indigenous projects.
The US is aggressively promoting the Strykers. Ahead of US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s visit to India, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin mentioned the “co-production of armoured vehicles with India” as another indicator of the upward trajectory in bilateral defence partnerships during the
Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore two weeks ago
. The US has secured lucrative Indian defence deals worth around $22 billion since 2007.
A look at the specifications & capabilities of the Stryker:
The Stryker is a family of eight-wheel-drive combat armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) jointly developed by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) Canada and the General Dynamics Land Systems Division in the United States.
The Stryker vehicles are a new version of the GDLS Canada LAV III 8×8 light armoured vehicle, operational since 2001. This vehicle evolved from the Piranha III built by Mowag of Switzerland, now part of GDLS, Europe.
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The Stryker, named after American servicemen Stuart S. Stryker and Robert F. Stryker, who were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honour, was the first new military vehicle inducted into US Army service since the Abrams tank in the 1980s.
Features in a Stryker vehicle
Technologically, the Stryker is a V-hull armoured infantry vehicle equipped with a 30 mm cannon and a 105 mm mobile gun. The Stryker hull is constructed from high-hardness steel, providing basic protection against 14.5mm rounds on the frontal arc and all-around protection against 7.62mm ball ammunition.
The vehicles also feature bolt-on ceramic armour, offering additional protection against 14.5mm armour-piercing ammunition and artillery fragments from 152mm rounds.
According to Army Guide.com, the Stryker is manned by a two-person crew and can carry a nine-man infantry squad. It is powered by a Caterpillar C7 engine with 350 horsepower, has a range of 483 kilometers, and can reach a top speed of around 100 km/h. The Stryker vehicles have demonstrated a better chance of surviving against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) compared to other light military vehicles.
The Strykers can be transported via Chinook helicopters, which the Indian Air Force uses. During the 2021 Yudh Abhyas exercise, an Indian Air Force Chinook demonstrated this capability.
Variants of a Stryker vehicle
The Stryker has two main variants: the Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) and the Mobile Gun System (MGS). The US Army operates over 550 Strykers in various configurations, including:
The Stryker can formulate a quick response to insurgencies or war-like situations, moving much faster than tanks on paved roads, thereby getting infantry squads into the fight more swiftly. This capability is particularly valuable in urban warfare.
The Stryker vehicles have been seen action in Afghanistan against the Taliban. Washington has also sent these combat vehicles to Ukraine to aid in the conflict against Russia, a move that was welcomed by Kyiv.
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The potential deal around the Strykers is expected to significantly boost India’s defence manufacturing industry under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. The US government may allow the Transfer of Technology (ToT), enabling joint production and the incorporation of Stryker technology into domestically developed armoured fighting vehicles for the Indian military.
The collaboration with the US is likely to enhance India’s defence capabilities and self-reliance.
With inputs from agencies
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How American Stryker combat vehicles that India is evaluating could be a game-changer for the army
