A picture posted today on Instagram has revealed that an important batch of 30mm Stryker ICV-D have been delivered to the 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment (War Eagles), Battle Group Poland. The ICV-D’s will be fielded in Poland this summer.

30mm Stryker ICV-D have been delivered to the 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment (War Eagles), Battle Group Poland. (Picture source: 2nd Cav Regt)

The Stryker ICV- D (Infantry Carrier Vehicle – Dragoon) integrates an unmanned turret with a 30 mm autocannon onto a flat-bottom Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle chassis with upgraded suspension and larger tires. The 30 mm autocannon is intended to employ High Explosive Incendiary – Tracer and Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot – Tracer rounds.

The Army initiated the Stryker 30 mm Infantry Carrier Vehicle – Dragoon program in July 2015 in response to an Operational Needs Statement (ONS) from U.S. Army Europe for improved or upgraded lethality of organic direct fire weapons to support dismounted infantry when engaging like units, or those supported by light armored vehicles.

In FY17, the Army conducted full-up system-level (FUSL) live fire testing of the ICV-D to assess platform survivability against a spectrum of operationally realistic threats. Preliminary assessments demonstrate that stowed 30 mm ammunition on the ICV-D represents a unique platform vulnerability that is not present on other vehicles in the Stryker fleet. Underbody protection afforded by the ICV-D is limited due to the flat-bottom Stryker hull.

In FY17, the Army also conducted a user excursion using soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (2CR) to validate development of gunnery training tables to support the operational test in February 2018 in Germany.

The major contractors for the Stryker ICV-D program are General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, Kongsberg Gruppen – Kongsberg, Norway, and Orbital ATK – Mesa, Arizona.