The Stryker's have been performing admirably. Every weapon system is tweaked after it is fielded and especially when it is a combat zone.
This is a case of "Write it and they'll come" syndrome. Only it's after the fact. The Stryker is doing just fine.
Ha. You should have seen the tender process we used to get them. Our MOD wrote it so tightly it could only applu to the Lav/Stryker, right down to the measurwements for the map and cupholders!
Then we faddled around tossing up between turreted/unturreted and the cost balloned because the non-turreted models needed centre-of-weight reenegineering cos of our extensive mods..
This was a classic case of our military deciding what we wanted and then making it fit the jobs rather than the other way around. I'm not necessarily opposed to the Lavs, but they're certainly not what NZ needs. At least an amphibious capacity and easier transportaion given our remoteness should have been factors.
Stryker and LAV III are different vehicles. There are no LAV III's in US service.
09 July, 2003
Kabul, Afghanistan
Canadian Forces Corporal Douglas Gill stands sentry atop a LAV III (Light Armoured Vehicle) at an observation point in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Cpl Gill, a member of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (2 RCR), is one of the first soldiers to arrive in support of Operation ATHENA, Canada's contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul.
ping