- Yes
- No
History
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the United States Army felt the need to adapt to the post-Cold War conditions. At that time, the U.S. ground forces was huge and powerful, but relatively less flexible. In October 1999, U.S. Army outlined a transformation plan, named ‘Objective Force’. This would have the army adapt a flexible doctrine for rapid deployment, and ready for variety of operations.
The Interim Armored Vehicle (IAV) was introduced as a part of the plan. IAV was intended to fill the capability gap between heavier M2/M3 Bradley and lighter Humvee, until the Future Combat Systems Manned Ground Vehicles are become operational.
The General Dynamics Canada and General Motors were partnered to enter IAV competition. The GDLS-GM team’s suggestion was LAV III based IAV. Since it was considered to be the the best off-the-shelf vehicle, the Army chose it. In February 2002, the Army christened IAV as ‘Stryker’, after the two Medal of Honor recipients: Private First Class Stuart S. Stryker and Specialist Four Robert F. Stryker.
The Stryker featured modular design for wide range of variants. One of them is the M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicle, a baseline APC version. The U.S. Army started to upgrade Stryker ICV with CROWS-J since 2018. The M1126 ICVs with CROWS-J is designated M1126 ICV-J.
Design
Power Train
Just like other Stryker variants, M1126 is powered by Caterpillar 3126 I6 turbocharged 7.2-liter 6-cylinder JP8/diesel engine. The power output is 350 hp.
The transmission is Allison MD3066P with 6 forward and 1 reverse gear.
Protection
Hull of M1126 is built with 0.5 in (12.7 mm)-thick high hardness steel. The MEXAS 2C ceramic composite armor is bolted on for additional protection, about an all-around 14.5 mm AP protection.
Armament
The M1126 ICV-J is armed with the CROWS-J remote weapon station. It is basically a modified M153 CROWS II (Protector RS4) with the Javelin Integration Kit, which provides provision for the FGM-148 Javelin missile. This allows the ICV to conduct anti-tank warfare on its own without the need to dismount infantry.
The FGM-148 Javelin is the man-portable anti-tank missile of the U.S. Army. It is a fire-and-forget system which does not requires additional guidance after launch.
The top attack mode is one of most iconic feature of the Javelin. When launched at targets in 2,000 meters away, it climbs at an 18° angle to 160 meters and maintains altitude until terminal phase. It then swoops down at a shallow angle toward the upper armor of an enemy tank.
This attack method is very lethal, because it targets vulnerable areas of an armored vehicle with more than 30 inches (760 mm) of penetration capability.
However the Javelin missile requires thermal camera cooldown for 10 seconds before launch, using the coolant gas in the BCU. Also the BCU itself has a lifespan of 4 minutes, so if the missile was not fired in 4 minutes after cooldown, it should be cooled again using a new BCU. This problem is resolved in FGM-148G with an uncooled seeker.
Normally the Javelin missile’s maximum range is about 2 km, due to the limitations of the CLU. But the CROWS-J features better optics, so it could fire Javelin missile against moving targets up to 4.75 km away.
The M1126 typically carries two extra Javelin missiles inside, but there have been sightings of additional missile stowed on the outside. This means it could theoretically carry at least four missiles even with the infantry onboard, and probably more if the rear compartment is empty.
Specifications
Crew: 2 (commander, driver)
Length: 23.99 ft (7.315 m)
Width: 9.42 ft (2.87 m)
Height: 8.83 ft (2.69 m)
Weight:
- Curb: 38,327 lb (15,926 kg)
- Combat: 40,906 lb (18,300 kg)
Engine: Caterpillar 3126 I6 7.2-liter 6-cylinder turbocharged JP8/diesel engine (350 hp)
Transmission: Allison MD3066P (6 forward, 1 reverse)
Performances:
- Maximum speed: 62.8 mph (101 km/h)
- Maximum reverse speed: 7.5 mph (12 km/h)
- Maximum grade: 60%
- Maximum side slope: 30%
- Maximum vertical step: 1.97 ft (0.6 m)
- Maximum trench crossing: 6.56 ft (2 m)
- Maximum fording depth: 4.26 ft (1.3 m)
Armor:
- Hull: 0.5 in (12.7 mm) HHS with spall liner
- Add-on: MEXAS 2C
Armament:
- Primary weapon: 12.7 mm M2HB or 40 mm Mk 19 on CROWS-J
- Traverse: 360°
- Traverse rate: 90°/s
- Elevation: -20° ~ +60°
- Elevation rate: 70°/s
- Stabilizer: 2-axis
- Secondary weapon:
- FGM-148 Javelin on CROWS-J
- Caliber: 5 in (127 mm)
- Mass:
- Initial: 24.8 lb (11.25 kg)
- Burnout: 22.38 lb (10.15 kg)
- Guidance: IR
- Maximum range: 2.95 mi (4,750 m)
- Minimum range: 71 yd (65 m)
- Thrust:
- Launch motor: 3,000 N
- Flight motor:
- 0.3s: 570 N
- 0.6s: 650 N
- 1.2s: 750 N
- 1.8s: 770 N
- 2.4s: 650 N
- 4.2s: 50 N
- Burn time (flight motor): 5.2s
- Warhead type: HEAT (tandem)
- Armor penetration: in excess of 30 in (760 mm)
- 4× M6 smoke grenade launchers on CROWS-J
- FGM-148 Javelin on CROWS-J
Ammunition:
- 2,400× 12.7 mm rounds (400 loaded in CROWS-J) or 576× 40 mm rounds (96 loaded in CROWS-J)
- 4× FGM-148 Javelin missiles (1 loaded in CROWS-J)
- 16× 66 mm smoke grenades
Fire control and vision equipment:
-
Primary weapon sight: TIM1500
- Field of view: 3.3/10.1°
- FLIR: 3rd gen
- Rangefinder: STORM LRF
-
Vision devices:
- Driver: 3× M17 Periscopes
- Commander: 7× M45 Periscopes
Sources
- Beyond Hell and Back: How America’s Special Operations Forces Became the World’s Greatest Fighting Unit by Dwight Jon Zimmerman and John D. Gresham
- FM 3-22.37 Javelin-Close Combat Missile System, Medium (Distribution Restriction: Approved for public release; distribution will be unlimited)
- Future Force Capabilities Conference by Scott J. Madore
- B3M4078 Introduction to Crew Served Weapons
- Design and Analysis of the Two-Stage FGM-148 Javelin Anti-Tank Missile by David Qi Zhang
- Encyclopedia of Modern US Military Weapons
- Javelin Close Combat Missile System - Medium
- Mini Color Series 7515 - Stryker Interim Armored Vehicle by Carl Schulze & Ralph Zwilling
- Performance of a Fire-and-Forget Anti-Tank Missile with a Damaged Wing by John Harris and Nathan Slegers
- Protector RS4 from Kongsberg
- Stryker Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station - Javelin (CROWS-J)
- Stryker Interim Combat Vehicle: The Stryker and LAV III in US and Canadian Service, 1999–2020 by David Grummitt
- Tankograd American Special No. 3050: Stryker Interim Armored Vehicle by Walter Böhm
- The Concise Global Industry Guide: Night Vision and Optics Handbook, Issue 21 from Shephard Media
- Thermal Imaging Module - TIM1500® from BAE Systems
