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@rvats
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Quick & Short Analysis - Will IA induct Stryker?
- Here's a prediction - Nothing will happen to this Stryker deal.
- Yes, I know our GOI and MOD can align quickly when it comes to geopolitical interests (purchase of Apache, P-8I, C-17, C-130) and a suitable AON can be created.
- But Stryker as a weapon system does not fit any operational requirement of the army.
- Let's understand the role of Stryker: It's basically a battle-taxi in the US Army for infantry which otherwise would've gone to battle on military transport vehicles, Humvees and then on foot.
- US Army's standard IFV is M2 Bradley; Cavalry uses the M3 version.
- While you can get option(s), Stryker comes w/o armed turret. At best it has RWS with an HMG and Automatic Grenade Launcher (AGL).
- Similarly, in case of India, our standard IFV is BMP-2.
- We don't have, yet the concept of motorized infantry.
- So far, with exception of few WhaP/Kestrels and Kalyani M8 under Infantry Protected Mobile Vehicle (IPMV) category.
- I had argued earlier that the induction of these vehicles could be the green shoots for emerging Motorized Infantry in the Indian Army.
- Another unique requirement which the Indian Army has is that its IFV/APC should be amphibious.
- This is driven by the presence of rivers and multiple layers of canals in the Western front where Pakistan uses Canals as a defensive feature to slow down and channel Indian mechanized forces.
- Plus, having amphibious IFVs and APCs means less requirement of engineering resources like bridge laying tanks/vehicles and other bridging equipment.
- We've seen BMP-2 swimming across water bodies even in eastern Ladakh.
- Stryker is not amphibious.
- Plus, if the Indian Army is planning to have larger degree of mechanization in the form of motorized infantry, we've the amphibious Kestrel.
- It offers various turret solutions as well.
- Which means it can be used as a standard Wheeled Armored Personnel Carier (APC) with basic RWS as well as a Wheeled Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
- BTW, when tenders were floated for IPMV and Wheeled IFV, former was floated by DG Infantry while the latter was floated by DG Mechanized forces.
- It makes ample common sense to have the same platform for both types.
- Any large-scale induction of Stryker will require a major change in the way whole of the Indian Army operates and fights.
- And I don't think this is happening over Stryker because it does not bring anything cutting edge or substantial to the table.
