Colombian army Gladiator 8x8 Stryker APC armoured vehicle

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The American-made Stryker 8x8 armoured personnel carrier is in service with the Colombian army under the name of Gladiator. In January 2013, the Colombian Ministry of National Defence awarded external link a $65.3 million contract to General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada, for 24 Stryker ICV Infantry Carrier Vehicles also called LAV-III in Canada.

Colombian army Gladiator 8x8 Stryker APC armoured vehicle at ExpoDefensa 2017 Bogota Colombia 925 001
Gladiator 8x8 APC (Armoured Personnel Carrier) of Colombian army at ExpoDefensa 2017, the International Defense and Security Exhibition in Bogota, Colombia.

According representative of General Dynamics Land Systems and the SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) arms trade database , a total of 32 Stryker ICV 8x8 armoured infantry carrier vehicles has been delivered to Colombia from 2013 to 2014.

The general layout of the Gladiator is similar to the original Stryker IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle, but the Colombian version is fitted with an Israeli-made unmanned turret Mini Samson which can be armed with one M2 12.7mm heavy machine gun or MK-19 40 mm caliber belt-fed automatic grenade launcher. The original U.S. Stryker ICV M1126 is fitted with a Kongsberg unmanned turret.

The Gladiator is based on double-V hulled LAV-IIIs with add-on armor to improve protection against landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The vehicle has gross weight of 20,459kg and it can accommodate 11 military personnel including driver, commander and gunner. All infantrymen are seated on individual seat, four down each side of the hull facing each other.

The Gladiator is motorized with a Caterpillar 3126B diesel engine developing 350 hp. coupled to an Allison MD 3066 P automatic transmission with 6 forward and 1 reverse gears. It can run at a maximum road speed of 100 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 500 km.

Standard equipment of the Gladiator includes automatic fire detection and suppression systems in the engine and crew compartments, a climate control system consisting of an air conditioning/heating system, ATGW wire cutter for the driver and the turret stations and a self-recovery winch.

Colombian army Gladiator 8x8 Stryker APC armoured vehicle at ExpoDefensa 2017 Bogota Colombia 925 002The Gladiator is fitted with an Israeli-made remotely operated weapon station Mini Samson which can be armed with one 12.7mm heavy machine gun or one MK 19 400 mm automatic grenade launcher.