The news followed a decision from the Biden administration to send to the United States a 50 M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. This is a heavy tracked armored vehicle equipped with an automatic 25 mm cannon, a 12.7 mm machine gun, and a TOW anti-tank missile system, plus auxiliary power unit.
Stryker armored personnel carriers have been mentioned as a potential element of Ukraine relief in the next funding tranche. The administration is expected to announce this package, with or without Stryker vehicles, around the time of the Rammstein meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on January 20, 2023.
As reported by Politico, Stryker vehicles would serve to boost the combat effectiveness of Ukrainian mechanized infantry, addressing an urgent need for armored mobility within the Ukrainian Armed Forces amid concerns in Western capitals that Russia might launch a major offensive in the coming weeks. The article notes that although Strykers are not as heavily armed or protected as main battle tanks, the eight-wheeled platform built by General Dynamics Land Systems can operate across snow, mud, and sand, though its off-road reach remains somewhat constrained by parts supply challenges.
American analysts have described the Stryker as not matching the M2 Bradley in tank warfare capability, but as a viable option for protecting infantry and transporting them to the front. They suggest the vehicle could provide a balance between the protection of a main battle tank and the mobility of an armored personnel carrier.
Observers note the wheeled design makes the Stryker quieter off-road and capable of carrying more personnel, typically nine soldiers compared with six in the standard M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. In the U.S. Army, brigades equipped with Stryker battalions occupy a middle ground between heavy mechanized formations armed with M1 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley IFVs and lighter units based on Humvee platforms.
In Iraq, Stryker formations offered better protection than Humvees while enabling faster movement on paved roads. The armament includes a 12.7 mm M2 machine gun with a large ammunition load, a 40 mm Mk19 grenade launcher with ample supply, or a 7.62 mm M240 machine gun. The weapons are controlled remotely by crews inside the vehicle.
Among the vehicle’s strengths is a digital data transmission system known as Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below, which enables graphic and textual information exchange among battalions and vehicles. The tactical display helps the commander plot friendly and enemy positions against a digital map, with data automatically shared across the unit.
The Stryker is also equipped with the Raytheon AN / TSQ-158 navigation system for precise ground positioning. The crew uses three M17 periscopes for the driver, along with AN/VAS-5 night vision devices, while the vehicle commander monitors the situation through seven M45 periscopes and dedicated video camera and thermal imaging screens.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces are already fielding similar platforms. The first of thirty-nine Canadian Armored Combat Support Vehicles, the Canadian adaptation of the Stryker built by General Dynamics, began arriving in Ukraine in recent weeks.
The deployment of formidable platforms such as the M2 Bradley and Stryker alongside the possibility of supplying main battle tanks may precede a broader package. Yet the final decision on the Stryker remains undecided while discussions continue.
As reported earlier by Gazeta.ru, the arrival of allied armored platforms including M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, Stryker vehicles, the French AMX-10 RC wheeled tanks, and Bastion platforms could enhance Ukrainian mobility for operations across the southern theater, enabling rapid maneuvers and bypass tactics that suit the terrain.
While a large-scale Ukrainian offensive in areas like Zaporozhye or Luhansk cannot be dismissed, the timing of weapon acquisitions will influence the strategic calculus.
Regarding the potential delivery of main battle tanks such as M1 Abrams, Leopard 2, and Challenger 2 to Ukraine, observers note that such decisions could surface during the Defense Contact Group meeting in Rammstein. Preparations typically advance well before the event, and ministers from member states are likely close to formal resolutions or have already drafted the key language.
In this context, the upcoming support package could enable Ukrainian forces to form coordinated strike groups in major directions, reinforcing the momentum of operations and shaping the trajectory of the conflict in the near term.