Army sees no challenge to Stryker combat vehicle

WASHINGTON, Aug 27 Reuters is reportreing that the U.S. Army on Tuesday said it was unaware of any challenge to its $4 billion Stryker combat vehicle program, despite reports that some Pentagon officials were questioning its future.

"We haven't heard anything. The Stryker is fully funded," said Army spokesman Maj. Amy Hannah. "The program has been extremely successful for the Army."

The Stryker, an eight-wheeled combat vehicle being built by a joint venture of General Motors Corp. and General Dynamics Corp. , was designed to help transform the Army into a lighter, more mobile force.

Army leaders want to buy 2,131 Strykers to outfit six brigades, which could be quickly sent into battle aboard military cargo planes, protecting U.S. forces until larger, heavier tanks arrived by sea or land.

The first of the new armored vehicles began rolling off the production line last month -- part of a $4 billion order awarded to General Dynamics and General Motors in November 2000 -- and 118 vehicles have already been delivered.

But the Army Times on Tuesday quoted unnamed Pentagon officials as saying the Stryker program was one of several under review by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and his staff for cancellation or major cuts.

Rumsfeld succeeded earlier this year in canceling another big Army program, United Defense Industries Inc.'s $11 billion Crusader howitzer artillery system.

But defense officials noted that program was not yet in production, while the Stryker is further along.

PREMATURE TO DISCUSS CANCELLATION

Pentagon officials said it was premature to discuss any cancellation of the program at this point.

"No decision has been made on any program, and no decision will be made until after the secretary of defense submits his budget to the president," said Pentagon spokeswoman Cheryl Irwin. She said the 2004 defense budget proposal would be sent to President George W. Bush in mid to late fall.

One industry source called the story "a trial balloon" to size up potential opposition to canceling the program.

Hannah noted the Stryker combat vehicle, which weighs about 20 tons and costs around $2 million a piece, was being developed on an accelerated concurrent schedule, which means it is being developed, tested and fielded at the same time.

She said the Army needed the Stryker to fill an existing gap between its light and heavy forces, with the airlift capability allowing troops to quickly get into position.

The Army Times quoted Pentagon officials raising questions about the ability to easily airlift the new lighter combat vehicle to battlefield situations, noting it barely fit onto a C-130 transport plane.

But Hannah said one Stryker does fit aboard a C-130 transport plane, along with four troops. The vehicles normally can carry up to nine troops, not including the drivers.

During recent military exercises, troops were able to remove each Stryker from a C-130 plane in three minutes and reconfigure it for battle in an additional 11 to 17 minutes.

"That's pretty quick and that capability doesn't exist today," she said.

Pete Keating, spokesman for General Dynamics Land Systems said Stryker would allow the Army to quickly deploy troops to battlefield situations, and protect them from hostile forces.

"If you're going to put soldiers in harm's way, the question is, can you give them some tactical mobility armored protection?" Keating said.