WASHINGTON — The US Army is scrambling to upgrade its own Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles with a bigger gun amid fears the vehicles now in Europe are outgunned by Russian counterparts — and Lithuania wants in on the action.
Lithuania is requesting 84 M 1126 Strykers with ATK-made 30mm cannons with a total estimated price tag of $599 million.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the request last week.
"Lithuania's acquisition of the Stryker ICV system would represent a major advancement in capability for the Lithuanian Land Forces, filling a vital capability gap that is not currently addressed," according to the DSCA.
A principal contractor has not yet been identified, according to the notice.
The request comes amid Lithuania's effort to ramp up its defense spending by a third as Russia's aggression in Ukraine keeps neighboring eEastern European countries on high alert.
Congress has authorized funding in the fiscal year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act to upgrade 81 vehicles with a 30mm gun and turret in response to urgent requests from the Germany-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
The Army's plan is to field Strykers with the larger gun in Europe by 2018.
General Dynamics Land Systems told Defense News last month at the Association of the US Army's annual convention that it's moving quickly to replace .50-caliber machine guns with a medium-caliber cannon on a portion of its Stryker fleet. GDLS officials anticipate the Army will eventually want to up-gun the entire active fleet; about 1,000 of the vehicles.
GDLS issued a competitive request for proposals on Sept. 30 and plans to complete a source selection process, guided by the Army, by the end of the year.
Email: JJudson@defensenews.com
Twitter: @JenJudson
Jen Judson is an award-winning journalist covering land warfare for Defense News. She has also worked for Politico and Inside Defense. She holds a Master of Science degree in journalism from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kenyon College.
