The US Army has recently released the prototype for an upgraded Stryker vehicle, nicknamed the “Dragoon”. The Stryker Vehicle is a wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier, filling the gap between the light and maneuverable Humvee, and the heavier Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Stryker brigades started deploying in the 2000s to create a second echelon force, where they could deploy via C-130 aircraft, enabling them to reinforce light infantry forces while waiting for the Armored Brigades follow on forces.
While the Stryker has received mixed appreciation by the troops, its greatest flaw was probably its light armament consisting exclusively of .50 caliber M2 Machine Guns. This being essentially the same as the armament of a Humvee, the Stryker’s only true advantage was the capability of carrying an entire squad. The Dragoon upgrade will add a turret and a 30mm to the vehicle, turning it into a wheeled Armored Fighting Vehicle like the USMC’s LAV-25 or France’s VBCI. This cannon and turret will enable the Stryker to stand up against similarly sized light vehicles, like the Russian BMP series.
This upgrade is long overdue and was urgently needed for the US Army’s infantry forces to have organic mechanized heavy weapons. Now, the next step will be to roll out this upgrade to all Stryker Brigade and concentrate on to the dangerously obsolete M2 Bradley once that is done.
AAN Staff
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