New US military aid package for Ukraine includes 100 Stryker 8x8 armored vehicles.

According to information published by several American media, the next U.S. military aid package for Ukraine includes 100 Stryker 8x8 armored vehicles and other military equipment. The Stryker is a family of armored vehicles that includes armored personnel carrier, reconnaissance, mobile gun system, mortar carrier, command post, fire support, engineer squad, and medical evacuation vehicles.
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The latest generation of U.S. Army Stryker ICVs are now equipped with The CROWS-J, a Javelin anti-tank guided missile weapon system, and is currently being fielded across 2CR. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

Citing information from American media, the United States will announce on Friday, January 20, 2023, a new military aid package for Ukraine worth about $2.5 billion that will include 100 Stryker 8x8 armored vehicles. 

With this new announcement, the United States takes another step in the supply of combat armored vehicles to Ukraine after the announcement of the delivery of 50 Bradley M2A2 tracked armored IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) and M109 Paladin 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers, in early January 2023.

On January 18, 2023, the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was in a meeting with his new German counterpart in Berlin as a prelude to the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting that will take place at Ramstein Air Base on Friday, January 20, 2023.

U.S. officials believe that Russia is readying a spring offensive in Ukraine. The country's partners have been focused on providing Ukraine with what it needs to defend itself. Particularly, the countries are looking to provide what Ukraine will need to parry the Russian offensive and launch attacks to take back the territory Russia has taken in its illegal invasion. This includes air defense capabilities and artillery.

There is no information yet on which models of Stryker 8x8 armored vehicles will be delivered to Ukraine, but probably the APC version will certainly be part of this first batch.

The Stryker M1126 ICV (Infantry Combat Vehicle) is the APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) version in the Stryker family. It is a variant of the Stryker armored combat vehicle produced by the American company General Dynamics Land Systems. It is used by the United States Army as an infantry carrier vehicle and can be configured for a variety of missions, including reconnaissance, medical evacuation, and command and control.

The picture shows a Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station-Javelin or CROWS-J, mounted on a Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

The Stryker M1126 is armed with a remotely operated weapon station armed with one 12.7mm heavy machine or one 40mm automatic grenade launcher. The Stryker can be also equipped with the CROWS-J (Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station - Javelin anti-tank missile launcher). In conjunction with the Javelin missile, the CROWS II mounts either an M2 .50 caliber machine gun, M240 7.62 mm machine gun, or an MK-19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.

The CROWS II is stabilized, electrically operated, and incorporates a Detached Line-of-Sight (DLOS), which allows the gunner to maintain a stable sight picture independent of weapon or ammunition selection. The CROWS-J replaces the legacy Remote Weapon Station (RWS) mounted on the Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV), and gives infantry and scout soldiers the ability to engage targets with the Javelin missile while under armor.

The M1126 Stryker is an 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle that is powered by a Caterpillar 3126 diesel engine, which produces 350 horsepower. It has a maximum road speed of 100 km/h and a cruising range of about 480 km. The vehicle is protected by a combination of aluminum, steel, and composite armor that provides protection against small arms fire and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).