Tag Archives: MCWS

Ground Forces

The first Stryker

Oshkosh Defense, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation, delivered the first Stryker Double-V Hull Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICVVA1) upgraded with the 30-mm Medium Caliber Weapon System (MCWS) to the U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Test Center (ATC) in Aberdeen, Maryland, where the system will undergo Production Verification Testing (PVT).

Stryker ICVVA1
Oshkosh Defense delivers the first Stryker upgraded with 30-mm Medium Caliber Weapon System

The contract awarded to Oshkosh in June 2021 requires Oshkosh Defense to deliver a total of seven systems by September 2022 for PVT that will be conducted through June 2023. Fielding of the MCWS is scheduled to begin in July 2023 with the I-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT), Joint Base Lewis McChord in Washington State, receiving the first upgraded Strykers.

«Our team leveraged our engineering and manufacturing prowess and deep commitment to customer satisfaction to deliver our first MCWS test vehicle on time, despite the dynamic market forces we have all experienced over the last year», said Pat Williams, Vice President and General Manager of U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps Programs, Oshkosh Defense. «Since the initial contract award, the close collaboration with the U.S. Army has been paramount to achieving this important milestone».

The U.S. Army selected Oshkosh Defense and partners Pratt Miller Defense and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to integrate the 30-mm MCWS onto the Stryker ICVVA1 in June 2021. Since then, Oshkosh Defense has completed Risk Management Testing (RMT) and received orders for a total of 269 upgraded Strykers valued at $356 Million.

«We’re incredibly proud to deliver this transformative solution and look forward to equipping our Soldiers with the precision lethality capability they need», Williams concluded.

Ground Forces

Stryker Double-V Hull

The U.S. Army Contracting Command – Detroit Arsenal (ACC-DTA) announced that it has awarded Oshkosh Defense, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation, an order valued at $130 Million to upgrade 95 additional Stryker Double-V Hull Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICVVA1) with the 30-mm Medium Caliber Weapon System (MCWS).

Stryker ICVVA1
Oshkosh Defense receives third order to upgrade Strykers with 30-mm Medium Caliber Weapon System

In June 2021, the U.S. Army selected Oshkosh Defense and partners Pratt Miller Defense and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to integrate the 30-mm MCWS onto the Stryker ICVVA1. The five-year requirements contract (with one option year) includes production and logistics support of the MCWS for up to six Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCTs). Including today’s order, the U.S. Army has ordered 269 upgraded vehicles valued at $356 Million to outfit three SBCTs in addition to 20 vehicles for Product Verification Testing (PVT), Follow-on Operational Testing & Evaluation (FOT&E), and logistics development.

«We partner with our customers to offer tailored solutions that meet today’s requirements while staying focused on future growth capability», said Pat Williams, Vice President and General Manager of U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps Programs. «For the MCWS program, our team listened to customer feedback to provide a Soldier-centric lethality solution in a lightweight package that’s easy to integrate while maintaining the survivability and mobility performance of the Stryker».

In April 2022, Oshkosh Defense completed Government-planned Risk Management Testing (RMT), which further validated the Oshkosh design. Oshkosh Defense also initiated production of the systems for delivery to PVT testing, which begins in late summer.

«We are proud of the partnership we’ve formed with the U.S. Army and the lethality solution we’ve designed together. We look forward to delivering the vehicles to test and getting them into the hands of the Soldiers who need them», Williams concluded.

Ground Forces

Weapon System

Oshkosh Defense, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation, has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center (DEVCOM) at Picatinny Arsenal.

Medium Caliber Weapon System (MCWS)
Oshkosh Defense partners with U.S. Army DEVCOM to develop, integrate, and test Medium Caliber Weapon Systems

Under the CRADA, Oshkosh Defense and DEVCOM will cooperate in the development, integration, and testing of innovative armament technologies to provide a transformative, next-generation lethality capability for the Warfighter. Additionally, the CRADA will enable both organizations to mature their technologies for eventual transition to direct fire medium caliber platforms such as the U.S. Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV). Development activities will leverage the proven Oshkosh Defense Stryker Medium Caliber Weapon System (MCWS) 30-mm turret.

«We are already starting with a robust weapon system platform with our Stryker MCWS turret», said Pat Williams, Vice President and General Manager of U.S. Army and Marine Corps Program for Oshkosh Defense. «This CRADA allows us to explore additional weapon system capabilities and apply them to our OMFV solution to provide our Soldiers with the cutting edge technology required on the modern battlefield».

In June 2021, the U.S. Army selected Oshkosh Defense, Pratt Miller Defense, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to provide a precision lethality capability to the Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCTs) as part of the Stryker MCWS program. Production of the Oshkosh Defense Stryker MCWS is expected to begin in Spring 2022. In July 2021, the U.S. Army also selected Oshkosh Defense to participate in the OMFV Concept Design Phase, which culminates in Q1FY23. Oshkosh Defense has partnered with Pratt Miller Defense, Hanwha Defense USA, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, QinetiQ Inc., and Plasan for the OMFV Concept Design Phase.

Ground Forces

Infantry Carrier Vehicle

The U.S. Army announced on June 3, 2021 the award of the six-year requirements contract to Oshkosh Defense, LLC for the production and fielding of the Medium Caliber Weapons System (MCWS) for up to six Stryker Brigades. The first delivery order is for 91 vehicles valued at approximately $130 million, with a total potential contract value of $942 million over six-years.

Stryker Double V-Hull A1
The MCWS procurement was a full and open competition with a tiered requirements strategy. The outcome represents a best-value balance of cost, schedule and performance (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)

«The MCWS Program of Record leverages upgrades and improvements from the Stryker Double V-Hull A1 Infantry Carrier Vehicle and lessons learned from the Stryker 2nd Cavalry Regiment Operational Needs Statement fielding», said Brigadier General Glenn Dean, the Army’s program executive officer for Ground Combat Systems. «It also incorporates real-time input from industry partners to provide state-of-the-art direct-fire lethality on a proven Stryker platform».

The MCWS is a 30-mm, unmanned turreted auto-cannon integrated on a Stryker DVHA1 Infantry Carrier Vehicle.

It builds upon the Army’s investment in maturing a 30mm weapon system, and the selection comes after completion of a robust competitive best value formal source selection, evaluating each competitor’s ability to meet technical and production requirements.

«The Army recognizes and appreciates the tremendous efforts and investments from the defense industrial base, partnering defense organizations and other industry partners contributing to the MCWS program», said Dean.

The evaluation of technical performance was achieved using production representative bid samples that vendors submitted for Government testing at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland.

In May 2019, the Army awarded five Design Integration Study (DIS) contracts and provided a Stryker Double V-Hull A1 Infantry Carrier Vehicle and XM813 cannon as Government-furnished equipment to contractors in order to facilitate industry design efforts and foster competition.

The MCWS procurement was a full and open competition with a tiered requirements strategy. The outcome represents a best-value balance of cost, schedule and performance.

Major features of the Stryker MCWS include the ability to transport nine infantry Soldiers and three crewmembers, and the integration of XM813 cannon onto a Stryker DVHA1 Infantry Carrier Vehicle platform allowing for programmable airburst ammunition compatibility through dual feed ammunition handling system, improved optics and extended direct-fire range over the current 30-mm temporary ONS solution.

Manufacturing of the MWCS will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with deliveries beginning 12 months after award. The first Army unit will be equipped with the Stryker MCWS beginning in Fiscal Year 2023.