M1134 Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicle is a U.S. armored fighting vehicle from the Stryker family of vehicles. As the brigade’s primary tank destroyer system, the ATGM reinforces the brigade’s infantry battalions, reinforces the brigade reconnaissance squadron and provides long-range direct fire. The ATGM vehicles are primarily operated by an independent Infantry company assigned to each of the Stryker brigades. The ATGM is based on the ICV platform due to the close parallels of operational requirements and battlefield capabilities between the two systems. The ATGM is an organic vehicle to the ICV maneuver formation and helps maximize commonality of the platform while simultaneously reducing the maintenance footprint and variety of logistics support.
The Anti-Tank Guided Missile vehicle provides an anti-armor overwatch capability that allows the Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) to concentrate on the use of M1126 infantry carrier vehicles to deploy soldiers in a manner that is relatively fast and protected. It is the primary tank destroyer of the SBCT, capable of defeating many armored threats up to 4 kilometers away using the TOW missile system. The ATGM Vehicle provides standoff for the SBCT by use of its SACLOS guided missiles, which are effective at ranges equal to or exceeding those of most cannons, autocannons, or small arms. The ATGM vehicles are primarily operated by an independent Infantry company assigned to each of the Stryker brigades. In the 2nd and 3rd Stryker Cavalry Regiments, O Troop is part of the Regimental RSTA Squadron.
The ATGM MAV’s purpose is to provide the brigade’s main tank killing capability firing heavy anti-tank missiles to defeat enemy armor at range before the enemy tanks can return fire. The intention is that the brigade’s separate anti-tank company, equipped with the M1134, will reinforce the brigade’s infantry battalions, form part of the brigade reserve, reinforce the brigade reconnaissance squadron in counter-reconnaissance action, and to counterattack the enemy’s. This dedicated ATGM system allows the remainder of the brigade’s MAV fleet to be optimized for specific capabilities that can function under the anti-tank overwatch umbrella. Of the 300 Stryker vehicles in a Stryker Brigade Combat Team, nine are M1134 anti-tank vehicles. The Stryker Brigade Combat Team is equipped with three platoons of MGS Strykers and three platoons of ATGM Strykers in its weapons troop.
