(NAPSA)—Theinformation age is changingtheface of battle. Data can now be collected—from both human andelectronic assets—and become the basis for a tactical decision faster than ever before. As a result, the U.S. Army is changingits culture, tradition and doctrine to adapt. It’s also changing the way it uses its groundforces. The kindsof conflict the Army will be called upon to tackle in the future will likely call for smaller units that can be deployed quickly without sacrificing firepower. That’s why the Armyhascalled for a transformational combat vehicle to support a new kind of unit. The unit is referred to as the Brigade Combat Team. The new vehicle is called the Stryker. Traveling at speeds of 62 mph, the Stryker has a range of 312 miles. It is easily deployed from C130 or C-17 aircraft. The Stryker’s Mobile Gun System configuration features a General Dynamics 105 mm tank cannon in a low-profile, fully stabilized, “shoot on the move”turret. It can fire 18 rounds of 105 mm main gun ammunition, 400 roundsof.50-cal- iber ammunition, and 3,400 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition. Its armor protects the crew from machine gun bullets, mortar and artillery fragments on the battlefield. Other Stryker configurations include a nuclear, chemical and biological reconnaissance vehicle; antitank guided missile and medical evacuation vehicles; as well as vehicles for engineer squads, fire support, mortars, reconnaissance, and command. In a recent exercise demon- ‘afta ae AP SES Traveling at speeds of 62 mph a new combatvehicle called the Stryker is changing the way the Armywill fight. strating the mobility of the new Stryker, soldiers had some very positive things to say about these lethal and survivable military vehicles: “It’s fast. You can take 11 people and all their gearoff a C-130 and put it in combatconfiguration in less than 12 minutes,” said a soldier participating in the exercise. “We went across some terrain that would have destroyed a lot of vehicles at the speed we were going. It was just awesome.” Another soldier said, “The Stryker protects soldiers inside from fire, chemicals and enemy weapons. With this machine, soldiers will be able to get to the fight more quickly—it lets us reach out and touch the enemy a lot faster. It’s ready. I’m ready. Stryker is good to go.” General Dynamics and General Motors share fabrication and final assembly of the vehicles. The Army wants six Brigade Combat Teams of Strykers so that soldiers will be able to fight, win, and come home.
