U.S. Arny Soldiers assigned to 2nd Cavalry Regiment (2CR) conduct a live fire exercise using M1128 Mobile Gun System (MGS) and 30mm Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles – Dragoon (ICV-D) during exercise “Dragoon Ready” at the 7th Army Training Command’s Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Oct. 17, 2018. Dragoon Ready is a 7th Army Training Command/Joint Multinational Readiness Center led exercise designed to enhance readiness and qualify 2CR in Unified Land Operations.
The M1128 Mobile Gun System (MGS) is an eight-wheeled armored car of the Stryker armored fighting vehicle family, mounting a 105 mm tank gun, based on the Canadian LAV III light-armored vehicle manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems. It is in service with the United States and was also being considered for adoption by several other countries. The MGS’s low profile turret has a small silhouette and mounts a 105mm M68A1E4 rifled cannon with a muzzle brake and an autoloader. While it could take on some of the roles of tanks, it is not designed to engage in combat with tanks.
In 2015 the US Army approved a lethality upgrade by equipping a total of 81 Strykers with 30 mm unmanned turrets. This significantly increased firepower of the Stryker while preserving its mobility. In 2015 the US Army approved a lethality upgrade by equipping a total of 81 Strykers with 30 mm unmanned turrets. This significantly increased firepower of the Stryker while preserving its mobility. Modifications were made to the hull roof of the Stryker in order to install a Kongsberg unmanned turret with an Mk.44 Bushmaster II 30 mm cannon.
