The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Argentina of twenty-seven (27) M1126 Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $100 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally that is a strategic partner in South America. The proposed sale will improve Argentina’s capability to meet current and future threats by increasing operational capabilities and force availability. Argentina will use the Stryker vehicles to conduct stability operations in support of disaster relief and international peace keeping and have no difficulty absorbing these vehicles into its armed forces. The prime contractor will be General Dynamics Land Systems, Anniston, AL. There are no known offset agreements in connection with this potential sale.
The Government of Argentina has requested to buy twenty-seven (27) M1126 Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles and twenty-seven (27) M2 Flex .50 Cal Machine Guns. Also included are AN/VAS-5 Driver’s Vision Enhancers; AN/VIC-3 Vehicle Intercom Systems; AN/VRC-91E Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS); Basic Issue Items (BIi); Components of End Items (COEI); Additional Authorized List (AAL); Special Tools and Test Equipment (STTE); M6 Smoke Grenade launchers and associated spares; Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) De-processing Service; OCONUS Contractor-provided training; Field Service Representatives (FSR); technical manuals; spare parts; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated program cost is $100 million.
The M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) is an armoured personnel carrier and part of the Stryker family of vehicles (derived from the Canadian LAV III/Swiss MOWAG Piranha IIIH 8×8) used by the United States Army and Royal Thai Army. The Stryker is a full-time four-wheel drive, selectively eight-wheel drive, armoured vehicle weighing approximately 19t which carries an infantry squad with their equipment. On paved roads the vehicle can attain speeds of 62 miles per hour (100 km/h) without a governor and 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) with a governor. The basic infantry carrier vehicle (ICV) provides armored protection for the two-man crew and a squad of nine soldiers. The M1126 ICV has a Protector remote weapon station with a universal soft mount cradle, which can mount either a .50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun, a 40mm MK19 grenade launcher or a 7.62×51mm NATO M240 machine gun. It is also armed with four M6 smoke grenade launchers.
