New Zealand Gets Super Stryker

StrategyPage.com ^ | August 31, 2001 | Bay & Dunnigan

[KiaKaha]

The RNZAF Skyhawks underwent an extensive refit here are some of the details

In 1984 New Zealand decided that they would upgrade the 22 Skyhawks that they already had. The J52-P-8A engine was retained, but the electronics were substantially upgraded. The retrofit program was given the name Project Kahu (Hawk). The AN/APG-53A radar was replaced by the AN/APG-66NZ, and the Litton LN-93 INAS, the Ferranti 4510 wide angle heads up display, the Vinten airborne video recording system the General Instruments ALR-66 radar warning receiver, and a Tracor ALR-39 chaff/flare dispenser were all installed. Because of advances in miniaturization, it was possible to incorporate these additional electronics items entirely within the fuselage without requiring the use of the dorsal hump. The Kahu-modified Skyhawk could be recognized by a bladelike ILS aerial on the leading edge of the vertical fin. The Kahu modified Skyhawk could carry the AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missile, the GBU-16 laser-guided bomb and the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground guided missile. The wing was rebuilt, the wiring was completely replaced, and the cockpit was completely rebuilt.

So the swapping over of some of the avionics was not such a weird idea as it may have initially sounded.

[jriemer]

[snip] lots of great inside details [/snip]

So it sounds that they were going to buy a fleet F-16s and bunch of F-16 AV packages as two seperate items. This way there wouldn't be the cost of retraining the squardon of A-4 pilots and the migration to the F-16 airframe could start with the next batch of pilots.

That makes a bit more sense - if they only went through with the plan. Now the RNZRAF doesn't have anything resembling a jet fighter in service.

[lshoultz]

The Stryker at 40,000 pounds is able to get off the ground in only the Air Force's C-130J. That is the newest and most high-powered of the fleet because of upgraded engines and an additional use of jet assist. Unfortunately, the "J" model C-130 comprises only 8% of the 500 C-130 fleet. So, while the C-130J is good for making pictures to show Congress that it meets specifications, there are 300 Strykers in a Brigade. How many Stryker Brigades can be flown on 40 C-130Js? I'm pretty sure that when Congress made the requirement of C-130 air transportability a requiremnt of the contract, they were anticipating ALL of the Strykers being able to fly on the C-130s - not just on the planes that are super-charged.

[lshoultz]

There's has a turrent with a 25mm Bushmaster chaingun. Our's has only unbalanced .50 caliber machine guns that cannot be fired on the move like the ones in the Abrams and Bradleys. In other words, our Strykers have to stop to fire. That makes them a direct target for both indirect fire (mortars, artillery) and direct fire weapons like RPGs, Molotov Cocktails to burn off the tires and machine guns that can shoot between the tires and there is no armor plate behind them - only tin.

We could not mount a turret on our's due to the fable about it being transportable by C130s. The turret makes them too high to enter and leave a C-130.

[lshoultz]

Even the automatic lowering and raising of the Stryker and deflation and inflation of the tires will not leave room for the Stryker with a turret to fly on a C-130. At present in the "squat" position and the tires running a low air pressure, the Stryker only has 14" of top clearance in a C-130. The only thing that can accomodate the lightly armored Strykers with a turret is a C-17. If they have to fly, why not just send the better armed and armored M2 Bradleys?

[lshoultz]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Not since the M113"A" model has it had "thin aluminum" armor. The upgraded M113s that have fought their way to Baghdad in the train of the 3rd Infantry Division and the 4th Infanty Divison are upgraded (rebuilt) M113A2s and M113A3. In a recent side-by-side comparison the M113s beat the pants off the Stryker. However, the Army already owns over 11,000 M113 chassis and there is no graft in rebuilding old chassis. The generals pushing the Stryker project namely Shinseki and his old deputy, General David K, Heebner, draw a stock commission on the sale of the Strykers.

We are paying $2.8 million bucks each for new Strykers when the M113A3s could have been refurbished had new digital electronics installed and fielded for less than $400,000. Ironically, the Israelis are buying the turreted Stryker because they don't have to fly them anywhere and their Raphael Armor works makes wonderful applique armor for them. They are only paying $1.5 million bucks each - $1.3 million dollars per vehicle less than we are paying. I guess they don't have any generals to bribe.

[lshoultz]

Only a C-130 "J" model will carry a Stryker that is still 2,000 pounds over its contracted weight at 40,000 pounds. We only have less than 40 C-130Js. We have over 500 C-130Es. They will not lift the fat Strykers.

[lshoultz]

The Strykers ordered by the US DOES NOT have a turret or a 25mm gun. They have only remotely operated 50 caliber machine guns. Those cannot be stabilized while on the move so the vehicle has to stop to put down supporting fire for its dismounted infantry. That lets the guys with the RPGs kill them since the Stryker uses its front four wheels for steering and cannot be fitted with RPG skirts.

[lshoultz]

General Dynamics, the contractor for the Stryker, has never delivered the Mobile Gun System, the 105mm cannon. They have also not delivered the Armored Gun System they contracted to build for the Army in 1980 so I don't think that anyone is surprised that they did not build the gun.

[lshoultz]

United Defense lost because its protest was heard under the administration of the General Counsel of the GAO, Anthony Horace Gamboa. Nobody couuld figure that out. I did.

Gamboa and Shinseki were classmates for four years at West Point and graduated in the USMA Class of 1965. The "ring knocker," Gamboa, took care of another "ring knocker," Shinseki.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

I'm pretty sure that when Congress made the requirement of C-130 air transportability a requiremnt of the contract, they were anticipating ALL of the Strykers being able to fly on the C-130s - not just on the planes that are super-charged.

If the contract did not specify, then General Dynamics has met the terms of the contract so long as one model of C-130 can carry a Stryker. GD got over on the gov't.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

How long does it take to unload, "reconfigure", upload ammo and gear, top off, bore sight and zero, perform pre-combat checks and drive off to the war? What kind of reception committee do they need? Seems like a lot of planes are going to have to come into that recently captured airfield before the Airborne sees any Strykers do something useful.

[colorado tanker]

Seems like a lot of planes are going to have to come into that recently captured airfield before the Airborne sees any Strykers do something useful.

That's how it looks to me too.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Soldiers to get ride of a lifetime

[shaggy eel]

,,, thanx for that!