GM Defense Unveils First Stryker Armored Vehicle For Delivery To U.S. Army

(London, Ontario, Canada) - GM Defense today unveiled to employees the first of more than 2,100 Stryker Armored Vehicles to be delivered to the U.S. Army over the next seven years. These vehicles will provide the U.S. Army's Brigade Combat Teams with a new generation of fast, agile and highly deployable light armored vehicles.

More than 1,500 GM employees were on-hand in the morning to meet with senior U.S. Army officials and to inspect the first vehicles off the production line. A formal first acceptance ceremony follows at 11:00 AM at the London Convention Centre. Nearly 500 government officials, community representatives, suppliers, and employees will enjoy festivities for the first official acceptance ceremony.

"This is a great day for the entire GM Defense team. We are delivering a world class vehicle that will have a big role to play in transformation requirements of the Army. Matching hard work to innovative thinking we have also been able to match the Army's requirements for the earliest possible deliveries moving from concept to first deliveries in just 18 months", said William (Bill) Pettipas, Executive Director, GM Defense.

The Stryker vehicle fleet, named in honor of two U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, is forming the basis of a major U.S. Army transformation initiative. The units are being manufactured by GM Defense in partnership with General Dynamics Land Systems (Sterling Heights, Michigan) under a contract valued at roughly $4 billion (US).

These vehicles are the newest members of the U.S. Army's inventory, weighing roughly 19 tons, with selective all-wheel eight-wheel drive, top speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour, and a range of more than 300 miles. The Stryker family of vehicles comprises 10 variants including Infantry Carrier Vehicle, Mobile Gun System, Commander's Vehicle, Reconnaissance Vehicle, Fire Support Vehicle, Mortar Carrier, Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicle, Engineer Squad Vehicle, Medical Evacuation Vehicle and Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle. Units can be transported in a full range of U.S. Air Force transport aircraft for quick deployment anywhere in the world. The Stryker vehicles are fast and highly versatile vehicles capable of activating their weapon systems and/or conducting rapid maneuvers in all types of weather, visibility conditions and terrain.

GM Defense is a group of GM-owned business units engaged in the design and production of light armored vehicles and supporting turret systems for military use around the world. The group comprises research, design, and manufacturing facilities in London, Ontario; Goleta, California; Troy, Michigan; Kreuzlingen, Switzerland; and Adelaide, Australia. Operations within GM Defense have more than 50 years of experience in the design, manufacture, and delivery of a unique family of light armored vehicles. Those vehicles are in service with the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Army National Guard, and with other military forces around the globe.