USAF Creates a Magnificent Monster


March 16, 2006: The U.S. Air Force has created the ultimate version of the Stryker wheeled armored vehicle. The TACP (Tactical Air Control Party) Stryker has extra equipment for managing what's in the air, as well as on the ground. This includes permanent mounts for extra radios, antennae, a tactical computer and the Rover system to view video taken by UAVs. Each TACP has a crew of seven (an army driver, an army vehicle commander; an air force NCO, an army fire support officer or NCO, an air force air controller; a radio operator; and a maintenance specialist). All are trained to fight on the ground, but their main job it to bring in smart bombs, artillery and rockets to where the troops around them need it.

After working with the six TACPs built so far, the army realized that this was the future of mechanized warfare. If all armored vehicles, and unarmored command vehicles, were equipped like this, you could bring enormous firepower down on the enemy with unprecedented speed and accuracy. Moreover, the Rover link with UAVs (and eventually warplane sensors) enables a single vehicle to see much farther, day or night and in all weather. Actually, this type of capability has been an army goal for some time. But the need for more capabilities because of a war going on in Iraq, and the subsequent development of stuff like TACP, has speeded up the process. Each TACP Stryker costs $3 million (vehicle and special equipment).

TACPs are going to Iraq, where they will serve their designed purpose, to make a new air force/army concept work. This involves formally linking air force fighter squadrons with army combat brigades. The air force and army units would regularly train together in peace time. This means that the commanders and staffs from the two services would frequently meet to plan these exercises. That would give everyone an opportunity to bring each other up to date on new equipment, weapons and ideas in each service. The first units will consist of several F-16 squadrons and a Stryker brigade. One reason for using the Stryker brigade is that these units have the latest communications and computer gear, which is designed to easily communicate with similarly equipped warplanes overhead. The new combinations will be called a Joint Mission Capability Package (Joint MCAP). If this experiment works, reserve and active duty warplane squadrons would be linked, via a Joint MCAP arrangement, with army brigades, with the idea that, if the army unit had to ship out to a combat zone overseas, its MCAP air force squadrons would go with it.

The air force doesn't like the idea of every armored vehicle having TACP capabilities, or using many more army personnel as air controllers. But that's where it's going, mainly because smart bombs have gotten so smart they no longer require a hot shot pilot to hit the target accurately every time. The primary responsibility is now on the ground, and most of it is embedded in machines. It's mainly point (the laser rangefinder) and click (to capture the location of the target, and transmit it to the aircraft overhead.) The army can even uses its own UAVs for the airborne videos. The army is rushing ahead with all this battlefield automation, and the air force is trying to keep up.

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Do they have to water it everyday or are those silk plants??

That looks like a target I would try to take out first if I engaged US troops.  I hope it hard to pick-out from other Strykers.

BTW very cool.

Quoted: That looks like a target I would try to take out first if I engaged US troops.  I hope it hard to pick-out from other Strykers. BTW very cool.

The pic is actucally a regualr Stryker Infantry carrier. I could not find a pic of the Air Force variant anywhere. I don't think there is a whole lot of diffence except for the electronics on the inside.

Air Force version huh?

So where do they keep the hot tub in that?  And I'm not seeing any racks for their golf clubs... hehe

Quoted: Quoted: That looks like a target I would try to take out first if I engaged US troops.  I hope it hard to pick-out from other Strykers. BTW very cool. The pic is actucally a regualr Stryker Infantry carrier. I could not find a pic of the Air Force variant anywhere. I don't think there is a whole lot of diffence except for the electronics on the inside.

<sarcasm> If it's AF it must have big screen TV, A/C, and la-z-boy recliners.  The union requires it! </sarcasm>

bump for more "Air Farce" jokes.

In reality this may be one of the USAF's better ideas. It will be a bigger version of the USMC MATGF.
Nothing wrong with that.

Quoted: Its actually part of an integrated combined arms concept now being tested by a secret, highly-trained special missions force.  The other part of the equipment is called SKY STRYKER.  Its purpose is to defend human freedom against Al Quaida (a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world). www.jrxtoys.de/images/gfg/jesper_gfg_JRX/toys/gi-joe/vehicles/1983/SKYSTRIKER_1.jpg Only other children of the 80's will get this joke.

operated by real american heroes!


anyway.... does this mean that the army will soon come out with the ultimate F-22?

Quoted: Its actually part of an integrated combined arms concept now being tested by a secret, highly-trained special missions force.  The other part of the equipment is called SKY STRYKER.  Its purpose is to defend human freedom against Al Quaida (a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world). www.jrxtoys.de/images/gfg/jesper_gfg_JRX/toys/gi-joe/vehicles/1983/SKYSTRIKER_1.jpg Only other children of the 80's will get this joke.

Still got mine

Quoted: Its actually part of an integrated combined arms concept now being tested by a secret, highly-trained special missions force.  The other part of the equipment is called SKY STRYKER.  Its purpose is to defend human freedom against Al Quaida (a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world). www.jrxtoys.de/images/gfg/jesper_gfg_JRX/toys/gi-joe/vehicles/1983/SKYSTRIKER_1.jpg Only other children of the 80's will get this joke.

I still have all my GI Joes (including a Sky Stryker) packed in a box in my parents attic.  No idea what I'm ever going to do with all those Star Wars, GI Joe and He-Man toys.

I was so pissed when one of my friends got the YF-19 look alike.

Quoted: Its actually part of an integrated combined arms concept now being tested by a secret, highly-trained special missions force.  The other part of the equipment is called SKY STRYKER.  Its purpose is to defend human freedom against Al Quaida (a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world). www.jrxtoys.de/images/gfg/jesper_gfg_JRX/toys/gi-joe/vehicles/1983/SKYSTRIKER_1.jpg Only other children of the 80's will get this joke.

I had one.. It layed waste to the bad guys in my back yard.

Quoted: Its actually part of an integrated combined arms concept now being tested by a secret, highly-trained special missions force.  The other part of the equipment is called SKY STRYKER.  Its purpose is to defend human freedom against Al Quaida (a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world). www.jrxtoys.de/images/gfg/jesper_gfg_JRX/toys/gi-joe/vehicles/1983/SKYSTRIKER_1.jpg Only other children of the 80's will get this joke.

the memories!!! i lost all my GI Joes when we moved alot

Quoted: That looks like a target I would try to take out first if I engaged US troops.  I hope it hard to pick-out from other Strykers. BTW very cool.

When The Army fielded the M981 FISTV, they painted "holes" in the targeting head to make it look like the M901 Improved Tow Vehicle (ITV), just so it would blend in.  A very good idea if your enemy knows the potential of the US Army Field Artillery machine.

M981 FISTV



M901A3 ITV

Quoted: Its actually part of an integrated combined arms concept now being tested by a secret, highly-trained special missions force.  The other part of the equipment is called SKY STRYKER.  Its purpose is to defend human freedom against Al Quaida (a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world). www.jrxtoys.de/images/gfg/jesper_gfg_JRX/toys/gi-joe/vehicles/1983/SKYSTRIKER_1.jpg Only other children of the 80's will get this joke.

I lost of the seats on mine thorwing it up outside to test the parachute
wind caught it
luckily I don't think I had a guy sitting it in

I wonder if this USAF variant has the LRAS3 sensor mast like the recon/scout Strykers the Army uses?

Quoted: Its actually part of an integrated combined arms concept now being tested by a secret, highly-trained special missions force.  The other part of the equipment is called SKY STRYKER.  Its purpose is to defend human freedom against Al Quaida (a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world). www.jrxtoys.de/images/gfg/jesper_gfg_JRX/toys/gi-joe/vehicles/1983/SKYSTRIKER_1.jpg Only other children of the 80's will get this joke.

ROFL!

Just look for the Stryker with the most antenae sticking out the top

Quoted: Just look for the Stryker with the most antenae sticking out the top

The more things change...

Quoted: Its actually part of an integrated combined arms concept now being tested by a secret, highly-trained special missions force.  The other part of the equipment is called SKY STRYKER.  Its purpose is to defend human freedom against Al Quaida (a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world). www.jrxtoys.de/images/gfg/jesper_gfg_JRX/toys/gi-joe/vehicles/1983/SKYSTRIKER_1.jpg Only other children of the 80's will get this joke.

And Knowing Is Half The Battle!  YO JOE!!!

556mm