Pakistan Paramilitary News & Discussions

[EagleEyes]

NGB chief and Pakistan military officials visit Stryker brigade



WASHINGTON (9/27/2007) - The chief of the National Guard Bureau and Pakistani military officials visited the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) at the Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training in central Pennsylvania Sept. 14 to see first hand how the National Guard is transforming.

LTG H Steven Blum and Pakistani officials arrived in the morning by helicopter at the Pennsylvania Army National Guard Aviation Support Facility and were greeted by Maj. Gen. Jessica L. Wright, the adjutant general for the Pennsylvania National Guard.

Wright led a tour through the aviation facility where numerous helicopters were being maintained by Pennsylvania Guardmembers and then into a briefing conducted Lt. Col. Marc Ferraro, brigade commander for the 56th SBCT.

Ferraro provided insight in to how Pennsylvania is progressing in its $1.5 billion transformation into a SBCT that will include 300 Stryker vehicles and 85 new construction projects. Ferraro stressed the SBCT is not just a vehicle, but a system and a concept that allows the Army to rapidly deploy, fight, survive and sustain troops in a range of environments from war to humanitarian assistance. The 56th SBCT is one of six Stryker brigades in the Army and the only one in the National Guard.

The delegation was lead outside for a briefing on the $2.2 million Stryker vehicle, and was then given an orientation ride on the tank trails through Fort Indiantown Gap.

Pakistani officials were able to see how sophisticated and well equipped our force structure is becoming as the National Guard transforms from a strategic reserve and into an operational force, said Maj. Eric Christopher, an international affairs officer with National Guard Bureau.

Christopher, who has helped build a solid relationship with the Pakistan Embassy and NGB said that the Pakistan delegation was impressed with the professionalism of the Pennsylvania Guard members and the facilities on Fort Indiantown Gap. This visit served as an opportunity to build a strategic partnership between Pakistan and the NGB, he said.

Just as the National Guard predates the formation of United States, Pakistan, which declared its independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, has a rich military heritage that dates back hundreds of years prior to the forming of their nation, according to Christopher. He said that Pakistan is also transforming its military to be better able to conduct counter insurgency operations and has suffered the loss of many soldiers in the Global War on Terrorism.

"This visit … showcased the combat, aviation, and maintenance capabilities that the National Guard has.”

Christopher said that a partnership with Pakistan could be the most strategic relationship in the NGB State Partnership Program.

“[It] is the only program that can bring continuity because unlike the active component it uses the same Soldiers and relationships year-after-year.

“I also believe the Pennsylvania National Guard has the best capabilities and resources to match with a country as large and complex as Pakistan."

“ … Pakistan is probably our best ally in the War On Terror; what we must not forget is that the Pakistan people are also experiencing a tremendous loss in this War: their political system is fractured and many of their own soldiers have been killed.”

He told of a recent al Qaeda ambush in the northwest region of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan that killed 15 soldiers.

This past July, Blum hosted a dinner at his Fort McNair residence for a Pakistan delegation attending a senior leaders exchange at the National Defense University there. During this event, a request was made to see the Stryker concept; in response, Blum offered members of the Pakistan Embassy a chance to see the newly-fielded Stryker Brigade.
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The National Guard - NGB chief and Pakistan military officials visit Stryker brigade in Pennsylvania; relationship forming

 

[EagleEyes]

Stryker Vehicles

 

[blain2]

This (these visits to see how NG units are operating) is all being done in prep to beef up the FC capability in the NWFP. It would be interesting to see Stryker type vehicles in the FC inventory...fairly capable of operating in the rough terrain there which is too difficult for APCs and too dangerous for Toyota HIACE/FORERUNNER flatbeds.

 

[EagleEyes]

What has the firepower of a tank, rolls 60 miles an hour, has the latest in battlefield communications technology, and can be transported anywhere in the world within 96 hours? The Stryker vehicle, which is spearheading the Army's new Interim Combat Brigade.

Stryker Combat Vehicle
The Stryker mobile gun system in action.

In 1999, General Eric Shinseki, the Army Chief of Staff, came to a simple conclusion: the Army was unable to meet the peacekeeping challenges of the post-Cold War era. The reason? A case of "too much" and "too little." Armored and mechanized infantry units were too heavy and depended too much on maintenance (mechanics, fuelers, and ammunition handlers) to be rapidly deployed to "hot spots." On the other hand, more deployable units (airborne or air assault infantry) lacked the firepower to be effective in peacekeeping.

The solution to the dilemma?

Stryker Vehicle: Fast Facts

Name:
Stryker Vehicle (General Motors Defense, General Dynamics Land Systems)

Type of Equipment:
Ground Vehicle

Features:

* Capable of speeds up to 62 mph
* Light enough to be transportable by C-130, C-5, C-141, and C-17 aircraft
* Basic frame can be configured into ten variants with different mission requirements
* Commonality of parts cuts down on maintenance
* Centralized tire inflation and deflation system helps vehicle adjust to different terrain

Related Links:

Full Stryker Specifications
More Tanks & Ground Vehicles
Equipment Guide


1. A modern "objective force" light enough to be transported by air to anywhere in the world within 96 hours.

2. This force would be self-sufficient and have the firepower of a tank battalion.

3. In the short run, while the technologies which would make this "objective force" operational were further developed, an "Interim Combat Brigade" (ICB) would be fielded to fulfill the above requirements.

Thus was born the Stryker family of wheeled vehicles, a concept of heavy weaponry wedded to adaptability and quickness.



Urban Fighting Machine

In effect, the Stryker is an upgraded version of an existing platform, the General Dynamics LAV III. They share some major characteristics: 8 wheels, a 350-horsepower diesel engine, a 6-speed automatic transmission, and a 2-speed transfer case. They are both capable of motoring at up to 62 miles per hour.

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But that's where the similarities end. To survive in urban combat environments, the Stryker has bulked up on armor, both steel and ceramic. This enables it to withstand a heavy pounding - up to 14.5mm cannon fire and airburst fragments from 152mm artillery rounds. Taking advantage of new information technologies, the Stryker is outfitted with the Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade-and-Below (FBCB2) information management system. This in effect "links" it up with other vehicles similarly equipped, creating a "digital battlefield" communications system. Accurate positional information is made available through a Rockwell Collins AN/PSN-11 PLGR precision GPS receiver, and the Raytheon AN/TSQ-158 Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS) ensures that this information is seamlessly and automatically transmitted to all levels. The resulting communications and sensor package ensure that the Stryker brigades are able to take advantage of "real time" battlefield intelligence.

The Stryker also has a few technical flourishes that James Bond would approve of: its tires can be inflated or deflated from inside the vehicle to adapt to surfaces that range from deep mud to hardtop, and it has run-flat tires, a built-in fire-suppression system and a self-recovery winch.

Offensively, the Stryker is equipped to do plenty of damage. Its weapons system is a Kongsberg remotely operated package incorporating a battery of M6 66mm self defense smoke grenade launchers and the choice of either a Mk 19 automatic 40mm grenade launcher, or an M2 50 caliber heavy machine gun.




A peek at the Stryker variants:

A. Infantry Carrier Vehicle B. Command Vehicle
C. Mobile Gun System D. Fire Support Vehicle
E. Medical Evacuation F. Mortar Carrier
G. Engineer Squad Vehicle H. Anti-Tank Guided Missile
I. NBC Reconnaissance J. Reconnaissance Vehicle

One Size Fits All

Another clear advantage of the Stryker family is interchangeability of major parts. General Shinseki's overall plan calls for all of the vehicles in the IBCT (Interim Brigade Combat Team) to be Stryker variants. In other words, all vehicles are based on the Stryker frame, streamlining maintenance and logistical requirements, and reducing procurement costs. Its engine is a Caterpillar engine common to the Army's family of medium tactical vehicles, and thus also more easily replaceable.

Of the 10 proposed members of the Stryker family, one is currently in service: the baseline Stryker ITV (Infantry Transport Vehicle). Next up for production is the 105mm Stryker Mobile Gun System (MGS), which is expected in 2005 at the earliest. The MGS is built to provide direct fire support to infantry during urban operations. It isn't a tank, but it sure shoots like one - it is equipped with the same M68 series 105mm rifled cannon used on the original M-1 Abrams tank. It's also offers "one size fits all" flexibility in its ability to fire all types of existing 105mm tank ammunition. The cannon is fast on its feet, being fed by a six-second autoloader that draws ammunition directly from an 8-round ready magazine. An additional 10 rounds are stored in the turret, which requires the crew to take the gun out of action to reload the magazine.

Playing with Weight

The most difficult nut to crack with the Stryker has been the weight requirement. Simply put, if the vehicle weighs more than 40,000 pounds, C-130 planes will be unable to transport it. The Infantry Transport Variant of the Stryker is C-130 deliverable, though with modifications: stowing external equipment into the crew compartment, dismounting the remote weapons unit, and deflating the tires prior to loading. Fortunately, reconfiguring the Stryker for combat after unloading can be accomplished by the vehicle's crew within 15-25 minutes. In addition, to reduce the vehicle's overall weight, on-board fuel storage is limited to 60 gallons, which gives the Stryker a range of 300 miles.

Weight is also a factor in the Stryker's armor protection. While its armor is an upgrade in comparison to the LAV III, in its air-transportable form it remains vulnerable to Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs). To counteract the RPG threat, a 7,000 pound appliqué armor package is being developed, but an up-armored Stryker would be too heavy and large to fit comfortably inside a C-130, although it can still be transported by C-5, C-141, and C-17 aircraft. As an interim measure, lightweight steel cages made from metal slats are being installed on the Strykers deployed to Iraq. This slat armor provides protection against RPGs, as rocket warheads "pre-detonate" on the thin metal strips, causing the projectile's explosive energy to dissipate before striking the vehicle itself.

Despite the weight issues, the Stryker's advantages are plain to see: its ability to carry a nine-man infantry or engineer squad; the interchangeability of its parts; its firepower and updated communications capabilities; and its ability to be deployed rapidly. It may be titled as an "interim" vehicle, but there's nothing "interim" about the punch and far-reaching capabilities in packs in its 19-ton frame.

A. Infantry Carrier Vehicle B. Command Vehicle
C. Mobile Gun System D. Fire Support Vehicle
E. Medical Evacuation F. Mortar Carrier
G. Engineer Squad Vehicle H. Anti-Tank Guided Missile
I. NBC Reconnaissance J. Reconnaissance Vehicle

 

[EagleEyes]

This (these visits to see how NG units are operating) is all being done in prep to beef up the FC capability in the NWFP. It would be interesting to see Stryker type vehicles in the FC inventory...fairly capable of operating in the rough terrain there which is too difficult for APCs and too dangerous for Toyota HIACE/FORERUNNER flatbeds.

100% Correct.

 

[EagleEyes]

This modification has minimized the damage of RPGs, but decreasing the maneuverability.

 

[kidwaibhai]

i think the pakistani army should have them first before the FC.

 

[blain2]

i think the pakistani army should have them first before the FC.

If the Stryker is a possibility then the FC needs it more. PA is to be withdrawn from the FATA in the near future. FC needs to be beefed up with adequate firepower and protection.

 

[bobloblaw]

sry...but how is FC any different than Pak Army?
isnt FC part of Pk army?

 

[EagleEyes]

Frontier Corps are part of the para military. Please read this information here.

http://www.defence.pk/para_military.html

Para Military is mainly responsible for the internal threats.

 

[kidwaibhai]

If the Stryker is a possibility then the FC needs it more. PA is to be withdrawn from the FATA in the near future. FC needs to be beefed up with adequate firepower and protection.

you are right though the FC does need these strykers but i was think if the FC has this in FATA shouldn't they also have this in balochistan. So that we can crush the baloch insurgency once and for all.

 

[EagleEyes]

So that we can crush the baloch insurgency once and for all.

Stop mate. There is no such thing. If that, a couple of bullets can do it.

Also, i was wondering. HIT will be happy to see them.

 

[fatman17]

yes, these visits are part of the proposed US$700m plan to upgrade the FC. at 2.2m a pop thats a lot of strykers. we need this plan to pass the US Congress before we get too far ahead of ourselves.

 

[kidwaibhai]

i think it would be better if we produced these things under licence from the US.

 

[Always Neutral]

USD 2.2 million per piece. I doubt it will be cost effective ?