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The U.S. Army has been issuing a number of contracts related to the Stryker family of armored vehicles lately. While DID doesn’t cover every one of these announcements, we thought we’d cover every announcement in September 2006, just to give our readers a kind of “fiscal year-end month in the life” flavor for what it takes to maintain the fleet.

The Stryker is known elsewhere as the General Dynamics MOWAG LAV III, in which capacity it serves with several western armies. The basic ICV armored personnel carrier chassis provides a base for a number of variants, from ambulance to mortar carrier to command and control to new variants like the M1128 Stryker Mobile Gun System pictured above, with its 105mm gun for direct fire support of infantry operations. While their tires put them at a disadvantage to tracks in terms of off-road possibilities and hence tactical movement options, the Strykers are well liked in the Iraqi theater despite the IED threat. In that theater, road patrols are a critical part of the military mission itself, and the CONOPS emphasizes mobility from bases rather than alternative strategies like reinforced Roman-style checkpoints at regular intervals along key roads. The Styker ICV’s high tech electronics, high top speed, ability to put many miles on its odometer without creating major problems, and protection levels are well matched to this approach, which has led to very positive reviews from the field.

Announced contracts this month are all chronicled now, though later clarifications are possible as releases provide additional details. The total is around $121.5 million …

Stryker Contracts, September 2006

Stryker ICV with
Anti-RPG Slat Armor
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Unless otherwise noted, all contracts are issued by the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, MI. They are sole-source contracts, issued to the GM – GDLS Defense Group LLC Joint Venture) in Sterling Heights, MI. A lot of manufacturing work is done in London, Ontario, Canada, however; and Doha, Qatar appears to be the regional maintenance hub.

Sept 29/06: A $5.3 million modification to a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for OPTEMPO Miles for Pre-Deployment Support of the Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, MI (15%), and London, Ontario, Canada (85%), and is expected to be complete by February 2007. This was a sole source contract initiated on Sept. 26, 2006 (DAAE07-02-C-B001).

Sept 29/06: A $27.6 million modification to a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for “procurement of repair parts in support of the reset effort which involves maintenance and repair of desert damaged vehicles.” We haven’t heard this referred to as RESET work before, though it is an aspect of fleet maintenance. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, MI (20%), and London, Ontario, Canada (80%), and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2007. This was a sole source contract initiated on July 28, 2006 by The Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Warren, MI (DAAE07-02-C-B001).

Sept 22/06: A delivery order amount of $23.6 million as part of an $89 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Stryker new equipment training and fielding support for the Stryker family of vehicles. Work will be performed in Fort Indiantown Gap, PA (45%), Schofield Barracks, HI (35%), Fort Wainwright, AK (5%), Sterling Heights, MI (5%), and Vilseck, Germany (10%), and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2007 (DAAE07-00-D-M051).

Sept 11/06: A $13.1 million modification to a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for repair of Stryker Vehicles returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom. Work will be performed in Doha, Qatar (80%), Sterling Heights, MI (10%), and London, Canada (10%), and is expected to be complete by June 30, 2007. This was a sole source contract initiated on March 31, 2006 (DAAE07-02-C-B001).

Sept. 11/06: A $7.3 million modification to a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Repair of Stryker Vehicles Returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, MI (12%), and London, Canada (88%), and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2006 (DAAE07-02-C-B001).

Sept 6/06: A delivery order amount of $22.1 million as part of a $4.86 billion cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for 1” slat armor and headlight extension kits for the Stryker vehicle. Work will be performed in Lima, OH and is expected to be complete by June 30, 2007 (DAAE07-00-D-M051).

Sept 6/06: A delivery order amount of $6.8 million as part of a $4.81 billion cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the retrofit of remote weapon stations for the Stryker vehicles. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, MI, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2006 (DAAE07-00-D-M051).

Sept 1/06: A delivery order amount of $15.8 million as part of a $4.8 billion firm-fixed-price contract for the air conditioning kits for the Stryker Vehicle. The troops working in Iraq’s 120 degree heat come summertime will really appreciate that one. Work will be performed in Auburn, WA and is expected to be complete by March 31, 2008 (DAAE07-00-D-M051).