America launches armored vehicle that can destroy both tanks and planes

The US Army's new armored vehicle is equipped with both anti-tank missiles and AIM-9X air defense missiles.

The new US Stryker MLS armored vehicle. Photo: General Dynamics Land Systems.

US defense company General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) has just introduced an improved Stryker MLS armored vehicle capable of destroying both enemy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and fighter jets, according to Scout.

Stryker MSL was developed to meet the US Army's need for close-in air defense capabilities in mechanized or asymmetric warfare scenarios.

According toKendall Linson,GDLS representative, the special feature of this latest Stryker version is that it is integrated with the Avenger launcher developed by Boeing, which can carry AGM-114 Longbow Hellfire anti-tank missiles and AIM-9X Sidewinder air defense missiles.

"To enhance the defense capabilities of the Stryker armored vehicle, we removed the rear part of the vehicle and installed the Avenger launcher. A Stryker must not only be able to go far but also have defense capabilities," Mr. Linson emphasized.

In addition, American engineers are also planning to equip StrykerMLSThe new 30mm ATK cannon has longer range and more power than current 12.7mm machine guns.

Compared to the 12.7mm M2 machine gun, the ATK XM 81330mm gun has twice the range and greater damage because it can fire high-explosive, armor-piercing and fragmentation shells with a range of up to 3000m.

Stryker is an 8-wheeled combat vehicle, which began to be deployed in October 2003. The vehicle weighs nearly 19 tons, has a maximum speed of 99 km/h and a maximum range of 502 km, and is covered with 14.5 mm thick armor to protect the two-man crew and 9-man infantry team from enemy artillery and mortar shells. In addition, the vehicle is also equipped with a barn armor to deal with RPG anti-tank guns.

Infantry units deployed in Strykers are among the first spearhead combat forces to maneuver into areas that are difficult for heavy vehicles such as Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles to reach.

According to VNE