US Army bids farewell to Stryker MGS in FY2022

The US Army on 12 May confirmed plans to retire its Stryker M1128 Mobile Gun System (MGS) by the end of FY2022.

‘This decision comes after a comprehensive analysis highlighted obsolescence and systemic issues with the system's dated cannon and automatic loader,’ according to a statement from the US Army.

It added that ‘the divestiture of obsolete systems’ will free up resources and personnel for other critical capability needs.

Armed with an M68A1E4 105mm rifled cannon, Stryker MGS was the first US Army system fielded with an autoloader, but it has become costly to maintain over time.

In addition, the army noted, the lethality capabilities provided by Stryker MGS were based on a flat-bottom chassis, 'and the system was never upgraded against more modern threats such as improvised explosive devices or anti-tank mines’.

Having reviewed concerns and vulnerabilities of the Stryker MGS, army officials decided to invest in other efforts to improve the lethality, survivability, manoeuvrability and maintainability of the Stryker fleet.

Examples of these new efforts include the Medium Caliber Weapons System with 30mm cannon, the Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station - Javelin and ATGM updates, providing ‘a better distributed capability than the limited number of Stryker MGSs’, the army added.

‘All of these enhancements have been developed and funded, and are ready to be fielded.’

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