The United States Army is in the process of enhancing the firepower of its Stryker Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV). The Stryker Enhanced Lethality Program (SELP)seeks do increase the firepower of the US Army IFVs. Among the enhancements will be the replacement of the mounted M2 .50-cal machinegun by a new 30mm canon. This new canon will increase the range and lethality that the Stryker IFV possess.
The new 30mm canon is expected to increase the range of the Stryker IFV by twofold. It will also allow the Stryker to fire high-explosive rounds, armor piercing rounds and air burst rounds. During live-fire testing at Fort Benning, the 30mm cannon was able to demonstrate firing ability out to ranges of 3,000 meters. Also, while the .50-Cal is often used as a suppressive fire "area" weapon designed to restrict enemy freedom of movement and allow troops to maneuver, the 30mm gun brings a level of precision fire to the Stryker Infantry Carrier that does not currently exist.
The enhancement of the Stryker IFV lethality shows that the US Army is transforming and adopting itself to the new threats it faces, most notably the Russian threat on NATO’s Eastern Flank. While the M2 .50-cal machinegun was good for use against light infantry in that counter insurgency roles that the US Army encountered in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Russia however brings back the treat of mechanized warfare and an increase in firepower for the Stryker IFV was thus needed in order to adopt to the new reality. It should thus be no surprise that the first units armed with the new Stryker IFVs will be the US Army 2nd Cavalry Unit. The 2nd Cavalry is one of the few US Army units based in Europe and is frequently active in Operation Atlantic Resolve.
