According to the U.S. Foreign Military Sales website, the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Argentina of 27 M1126 Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $100 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on July 6, 2020.
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U.S. soldiers from C Coy, 1st Bn, 21st Inf Rgt, 2nd Stryker Bde Combat Team, 25th Inf Div "Gimlets" pull security after dismounting from an M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicles, (ICV) Sept. 20, 2012 (Picture source: U.S. Army/Tech. Sgt. Michael Holzworth, DMA Pacific - Hawaii Media Bureau)
The Government of Argentina has requested to buy 27 M1126 Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles and 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 prime contractor will be General Dynamics Land Systems, Anniston, AL. There are no known offset agreements in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will require the temporary assignment of two U.S. contractor representatives to Argentina to support the program.
The Stryker is based on the LAV III light-armored vehicle, which in turn was based on the LAV-25 series. The vehicle comes in several variants with a common engine, transmission, hydraulics, wheels, tires, differentials and transfer case. The M1130 Command Vehicle and M1133 Medical Evacuation Vehicle have an air conditioning unit mounted on the back. The medical vehicle also has a higher-capacity generator. A recent upgrade program provided a field retrofit kit to add air conditioning units to all variants, and production started in 2005 on the Mobile Gun System mounting an overhead General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) 105 mm automatic gun called the M1128 Mobile Gun System.
For its powerpack, the Stryker uses a Caterpillar diesel engine common in U.S. Army medium-lift trucks, eliminating additional training for maintenance crews and allowing the use of common parts.[50] Because of obsolescence concerns, the Caterpillar 3126 engine was recently replaced by a Caterpillar C7 engine and the Allison 3200SP transmission. Pneumatic or hydraulic systems drive almost all of the vehicle's mechanical features; for example, a pneumatic system switches between 8×4 and 8×8 drive.
The unit cost to purchase the initial Stryker ICVs (without add-ons, including the slat armor) was US$3 million in April 2002. By May 2003, the regular production cost per vehicle was US$1.42 million. In February 2012, the cost had risen to US$4.9 million. No update is available.
