US Army upgrades Strykers, inducts next-gen combat vehicles to replace Humvees
The US Army's Pennsylvania-based 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) has commenced the receipt of more than 600 new or upgraded vehicles as part of a comprehensive modernization initiative.
The brigade will integrate 324 upgraded Stryker armored vehicles and 300 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), enhancing its operational capabilities in contemporary conflict environments.
The upgraded Strykers feature a double-V hull (DVH) design, replacing the legacy flat-bottom-hull Strykers currently in use.
This structural enhancement was initiated in response to vulnerabilities identified during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, where improvised explosive devices (IEDs) posed significant threats to vehicle survivability.
According to Col. Christopher Costello, commander of the 56th SBCT, the DVH configuration has demonstrated superior blast-deflection properties, significantly reducing casualties and injury severity compared to flat-bottom-hull models.
"Combat experience in Afghanistan validated the effectiveness of the double-V hull design," Costello stated.
"Analysis of IED incidents indicated a marked improvement in crew survivability, with personnel often able to return to duty following an attack—an outcome far less common with the legacy flat-bottom hull."
In parallel, the brigade's transition to JLTVs represents a substantial upgrade over its current inventory of M1097 HMMWVs.
Costello emphasized the operational advantages of the JLTV platform, citing increased protection, mobility, and payload capacity as key enhancements over the older Humvee.
Initial fielding efforts will see at least 25 upgraded Strykers arrive at Fort Indiantown Gap for training. Col. Jeremy Coleman, Pennsylvania Army National Guard deputy chief of staff for logistics (G4), confirmed that all JLTVs will be staged at Fort Indiantown Gap before unit-level distribution.
The final disposition of the remaining Strykers has yet to be determined, with options including direct fielding to unit locations or initial consolidation at Fort Indiantown Gap.
The 56th SBCT will conduct structured "train-the-trainer" programs in March to facilitate the transition.
Maj. Sean Brown, brigade operations officer, detailed that personnel currently qualified on flat-bottom Strykers will receive specialized instruction on the operational nuances of the DVH variant.
These newly certified trainers will disseminate knowledge across their formations during scheduled drills and annual training cycles.
Concurrently, brigade-level maintenance personnel will undergo a five-day field-level sustainment course to familiarize themselves with the technical aspects of DVH Stryker upkeep.
Brown underscored the necessity of ensuring a seamless logistical transition given the deployment of several hundred 56th SBCT personnel to Africa and Germany.
Currently stationed in Germany in support of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine mission, Costello acknowledged the inherent challenges posed by ongoing overseas commitments but emphasized the brigade's capacity to adapt and execute its modernization objectives.
Coleman concurred, noting that successful implementation will require coordination among all stakeholders.
"This modernization effort represents a critical opportunity for the 28th Infantry Division and the 56th SBCT to replace legacy equipment with platforms better suited to contemporary and future conflict environments," he said.
The Stryker is an eight-wheeled, armored combat vehicle forming the backbone of Army Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCTs).
Available in multiple configurations—including infantry carrier, reconnaissance, mortar carrier, command and control, and medical evacuation—Strykers offer mobility, firepower, and modular adaptability. The platform can carry up to 11 occupants and achieves speeds of up to 60 mph.
The U.S. Army currently fields nine SBCTs, seven within the active-duty force and two in the National Guard.
The 56th SBCT, headquartered at Biddle Air National Guard Base in Horsham with units dispersed across Pennsylvania, was the first reserve-component brigade to transition to the Stryker platform in 2004.
Costello emphasized that this modernization program enhances the brigade's overall combat readiness.
"Despite the logistical challenges associated with concurrent deployments, the performance of 56th SBCT Soldiers in recent operations affirms my confidence in a successful transition," he stated. "The high level of pre-deployment training reinforces our ability to integrate this new equipment while remaining fully prepared for both civil support operations and wartime contingencies."
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