US Army unveils redesigned Stryker created in Metro Detroit

New weaponry helps military keep up

MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – The Macomb County defense corridor is more than just a marketing slogan. It's helping our nation's military stay current and ready, and it got the call to get seriously bust last year. Thursday, we saw the results.

The program started in Macomb County in 1999. It's seen plenty of evolution over time and the Stryke military vehicle is the result of a very specific and important request. It provides the new and overwhelming firepower the Army said it needs and didn't have 13 months ago.

It's the next generation Stryker attack vehicle and personnel carrier. The first finished model was rolled out in Sterling Heights Thursday. The General Dynamics Land Team and the Army said the high-tech, 30-caliber grenade and artillery launcher is exceptionally accurate.

"We can drill tacks, throwing the equivalent of a hand grenade, and explosive round, accurately beyond two miles at 200 feet per minute," Col. Glen Dean said.

The American Army discovered the hard way that it needed the vehicle's capability when the Russians entered Ukraine last year with an unexpected technological advantage.

"The Russians had upgraded in significant capability while we were engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan and in the face of prospective conflict, Army leaders recognized the existing weaponry in place our force was a risk that was unacceptable," said the Army's Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Daniel Allyn.

He said the Russians had unmanned aircraft, cyber weaponry and electronic warfare that left U.S. troops as sitting ducks, so they went to work on getting the 30 millimeter remote-controlled guns into place.

It was all possible because of Metro Detroit's unique engineering skills.

They're going to build 80 of these, some in Metro Detroit and others in Ohio and in Alabama. They're expected to be battlefield ready by 2018.

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About the Authors:

Rod Meloni is an Emmy Award-winning Business Editor on Local 4 News and a Certified Financial Plannerâ„¢ Professional.

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.