Breaking news
Thailand could purchase 60 Stryker ICV 8x8 armored vehicles from US.
On July 26, 2019, the U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Thailand of 60 Stryker ICV Infantry Carrier Vehicles with equipment and support for an estimated cost of $175 million.
US Army Stryker ICV at Fort Irwin National Training Center. (Picture source U.S. DoD)
The Government of Thailand has requested to buy sixty (60) Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICV); and sixty (60) M2 Flex .50 cal machine guns. Also included are spare parts, Basic Issue Items (BII), Components of End Items (COEI), Additional Authorized List (AAL) (specific items for operations and maintenance), Special Tools and Test Equipment (STTE), technical manuals, OCONUS Deprocessing Service, M6 smoke grenade launchers (4 per vehicle) and associated spares, AN/VAS-5 Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE), AN/VIC-3 vehicle intercommunications system, contractor provided training and Field Service Representatives (FSR), and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated program cost is $175 million.
The Stryker vehicles will increase Thailand's capability to defend its sovereign territory against traditional and non-traditional threats by filling the capability void between light infantry soldiers and heavy mechanized units. Thailand will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.
The principal contractor for the Stryker vehicle is General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, MI. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
The Stryker is a family of 8x8 wheeled armored fighting vehicles derived from the Canadian LAV III. Stryker vehicles are produced by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada for the United States Army. The M1126 is the ICV Infantry Carrier Vehicle (armored personnel carrier) n the family of Stryker vehicles.
The Stryker ICV M1126 has a crew of 2 including driver and commander and can accommodate a 9-man infantry squad. It has a total weight of 19 tons. The vehicle integrates communications text system and a map network between vehicles. It can be armed with 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun, one 40 mm Mk 19 grenade launcher or 7.62 mm M240 machine gun.