U.S. Army Transforms Washington-Based 81st Stryker Brigade Into New Mobile Combat Team.

The U.S. Department of War has begun transforming the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Washington State into a Mobile Brigade Combat Team. The change reflects the Army’s shift toward faster, expeditionary units capable of operating across complex, multi-domain battlefields.

At the end of October 2025, the U.S. Department of War announced a sweeping redesign of the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, marking the first conversion of its kind under the Army’s modernization plan. Based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the brigade is phasing out its Stryker 8x8 armored vehicles in favor of lighter Infantry Squad Vehicles, or ISVs, developed through a GM Defense and Polaris partnership. Army planners describe the move as a test case for new “mobile” formations intended to move faster, deploy farther, and survive in contested zones where heavy armor may not be practical.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

U.S. Soldiers from the 898th Brigade Engineer Battalion, part of the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Washington National Guard, direct a Stryker armored vehicle to the wash rack for turn-in at the Unit Training and Equipment Site on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Oct. 17, 2025. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War)

This transformation is central to the U.S. Army’s "Transforming in Contact" doctrine, which emphasizes mobility, dispersion, and digital integration over massed armor. The MBCT (Mobile Brigade Combat Team) is designed to operate across contested terrains with limited infrastructure, where speed, low signature, and autonomous support systems provide greater survivability than heavy armor alone.

The 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT), selected as the pilot unit for this concept, has already begun the phased withdrawal of its Stryker 8x8 armored vehicle fleet. Over the next three years, the brigade will complete its conversion, with the ISV (Infantry Squad Vehicle) serving as its core ground mobility asset. The ISV, developed by GM Defense, is based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 platform and engineered for high mobility and squad-level transport. It is a lightweight, unarmored tactical vehicle designed to carry nine soldiers across rugged or urban terrain.

Weighing under 2,270 kg (5,000 lb), the ISV (Infantry Squad Vehicle) is air-transportable by CH-47 Chinook or sling-loadable by UH-60 Black Hawk, significantly increasing tactical flexibility. It can reach speeds over 110 km/h (68 mph) and has a range exceeding 500 km (310 mi), enabling long-distance maneuvering with a minimal logistics footprint. Unlike the 19,000 kg (42,000 lb) Stryker, which provides limited armor and built-in weapon systems, the ISV relies on speed, mobility, and a lower visual and electronic signature to avoid detection and engagement.

This mobility-first approach is accompanied by the integration of unmanned systems. The MBCT will incorporate robotic vehicles for logistics and reconnaissance, tactical drones for persistent surveillance, and networked sensors that feed real-time battlefield data to mobile command nodes. These assets are intended to extend operational reach and enable dispersed formations to remain connected, lethal, and resilient even in communications-degraded environments.

The Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) is a lightweight, wheeled, unarmored tactical vehicle designed to rapidly transport a nine-soldier infantry squad across rough terrain. Air-transportable by helicopter or cargo plane, the ISV prioritizes speed and mobility over protection, supporting fast, dispersed operations in complex environments. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War)

Strategically, the MBCT (Mobile Brigade Combat Team) model supports rapid deployment into high-risk regions such as Eastern Europe, the Arctic, or the Indo-Pacific. With its ability to be transported by C-130 aircraft and to operate independently in austere conditions, the ISV-equipped brigade aligns with the U.S. Army’s and NATO’s evolving posture toward rapid-response mobility. In multinational scenarios, such units can be forward-deployed to support deterrence missions or reinforce Article 5 commitments without the delays or infrastructure burden of armored brigades.

For the U.S. Army 81st Brigade, this marks a third major structural shift since the early 2000s. Originally an Armored Brigade Combat Team, it transitioned to a Stryker formation in 2015 and now leads the way toward a mobile, digitally connected brigade model. The unit will test new doctrinal concepts, validate the fielding of autonomous systems, and provide feedback for refining future U.S. Army force designs.

This transition is not just about vehicle replacement. It reflects a foundational change in how the U.S. Army intends to fight and survive on the future battlefield. With near-peer adversaries deploying long-range fires, electronic warfare, and persistent ISR platforms, the ability to move fast, sense early, and operate in a dispersed manner has become more valuable than armor mass. The 81st’s transformation into a Mobile Brigade Combat Team signals the U.S. Army’s commitment to building forces capable of prevailing in high-intensity, multi-domain conflict environments.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.