Oshkosh Delivers First Medium Caliber Weapon System Stryker For Army Evaluation
Oshkosh Defense announced on Tuesday that it had delivered the first Stryker Double-V Hull Infantry Carrier Vehicle upgraded with the company’s 30mm Medium Caliber Weapon System (MCWS) to the U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Test Center for Product Verification Testing.
The Stryker is the first of seven upgraded Strykers Oshkosh has been contracted to deliver by September 2022 for Product Verification Testing (PVT) running through June 2023. Oshkosh was selected in June 2021 by the Army to integrate and supply the MCWS on the Stryker, with Oshkosh completing government-planned Risk Management Testing on the system in April and subsequently starting production on the evaluation systems.
The delivery follows an additional $130 million contract award last month for the upgrading of an additional 95 Strykers with the MCWS, expanding the order to date to 269 MCWS-equipped Strykers valued at $356 million. 3 Stryker Brigade Combat Teams will be equipped with the upgunned Strykers, with 20 vehicles to be used for PVT, Follow-on Operational Testing & Evaluation, and logistics development. The I-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) based at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Washington is currently designated as the first unit to receive production vehicles, with deliveries to start in July 2023.
“Our team leveraged our engineering and manufacturing prowess and deep commitment to customer satisfaction to deliver our first MCWS test vehicle on time, despite the dynamic market forces we have all experienced over the last year,” said Pat Williams, Vice President and General Manager of U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps Programs, Oshkosh Defense. “Since the initial contract award, the close collaboration with the U.S. Army has been paramount to achieving this important milestone.”
Oshkosh Defense partnered with Oshkosh wholly owned subsidiary Pratt Miller and Rafael to develop and offer the MCWS, using a derivative of Rafael’s SAMSON turret series. Oshkosh’s bid beat five other industry teams competing to lead the continued upgunning of the Army’s Stryker fleet, with the Army seeking a more refined weapon system than the Kongsberg Protector MCT-30 turrets currently used by the 2nd Cavalry Regiment’s Stryker Dragoons.
“We’re incredibly proud to deliver this transformative solution and look forward to equipping our Soldiers with the precision lethality capability they need.” Williams concluded.