Royal Thai Army receives 10 new Stryker ICV Infantry Combat Vehicles from US.

10 Stryker armored infantry carriers manufactured in the United States recently arrived at Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri province for delivery to the Royal Thai Army, Defense Studies reports. The cost of the vehicle, which was purchased from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, is about 900 million baht (USD 25.4 Mn). In addition to spare parts, equipment and testing equipment, the acquisition includes maintenance support and training. In fiscal years 2019, 2020 and 2021, the Royal Thai Army ordered 70, 50 and 10 Stryker vehicles, respectively, for a total cost of approximately 9.1 billion baht (USD 256.6 Mn).
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M1126 Stryker ICV (Picture source: NNT)

The Armaments Department in Saraburi reportedly inspected ten vehicles over the weekend before transporting them to the 11th Infantry Division in Chachoengsao province.

In July 2019, the U.S. State Department made a determination approving a Foreign Military Sale to Thailand of 60 Stryker infantry carrier vehicles with equipment and support for an estimated cost of $175 million. The Government of Thailand had 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, the contractor provided training and Field Service Representatives (FSR), and other related elements of logistics and program support.

In Fiscal Year 2020, Thailand ordered another batch of 50 Stryker vehicles. For the Fiscal Year 2021, Thailand procured 10 more Stryker vehicles and announced it would have a total of 130 vehicles to equip three infantry battalions.

The Royal Thai Army displayed its first M1126 Stryker ICV during Defense & Security Thailand 2019 (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Stryker is a family of 8x8 armored fighting vehicles derived from the wheeled armored vehicle Canadian LAV III, which in turn was based on the Swiss Mowag Piranha III 8x8, and produced by General Dynamics Land Systems.

The M1126 variant is the ICV (Infantry Carrier Vehicle) in the Stryker family. The Infantry Carrier Vehicle provides protected transport and, during dismounted assault, supporting fire for the infantry squad. The Stryker is a full-time four-wheel drive, selectively eight-wheel drive, armored vehicle weighing approximately 19,000 kg which carries an infantry squad of 9 soldiers with their equipment.

The M1126 ICV is fitted with a Protector remote weapon station with a universal soft mount cradle, which can mount either a .50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun, a 40mm MK19 grenade launcher or a 7.62×51mm NATO M240 machine gun. It is also armed with four M6 smoke grenade launchers.

Last March, the US Army introduced its mortar-carrying M1129 Stryker vehicles to the Royal Thai Army (RTA) during Cobra Gold multi-national Indo-Pacific military exercise in Thailand. US Army personnel demonstrated maintenance procedures, elevation preparation for the mortar systems, dismount maneuvers, and live-fire exercises. “Fielding the 112th Stryker Regiment is spearheading the ongoing development and modernization of the RTA by introducing new armored vehicles that significantly upgrade its combat capability and operational reach,” 4th Battalion Maj. Curt Belohlavek said in a press release.