I've been wondering how a Stryker would be , if fit out w/ an AAA system? I was looking for a suitable AAA system, and found an older academy SPAAG M163 ! Looks like it would work , if mounted on the M1127 Recon?? Whatcha all think? If this could be feasible..I'll order it up, and post a few build pics!!

Thanks for any input
Jeff

Hey, why not go all out and make an MMEV on your Stryker hull...

The ideas that people come up with...feesible, well, I guess that is another question.

There are all manner of air defense turrets that could fit a Stryker hull from the Canadian/Swiss/German ADATS listed above to the Blazer fitted to the Marine LAV to the Starstreak HVM turret, various Mistral turrets, the Oerlikon 35mm Millenium gun turret,...

The list just goes on and on.

But since Stryker is an American vehicle the air defense system would have to meet American requirements and operational doctrine. Currently that probably means the AMRAAM/Avenger launcher setup.

Wow..I didn't realize there was so many options!!! I really like the stryker that Graeme posted...

guess it wouldn't be a far fetch to equip one w/ an Avenger mount!

Thanks for the options

Easy way would be to pull the Avenger turret out of the Trumpeter LAV AD, and put it on the Stryker chassis. Might even fit fairly well right out of the box.

However a USMC turret on a US Army chariot might not go well with the egos! LOL

If you are talking about the HMMV Avenger, I think it would be. There is already a purpose built vehicle for that. As Scott said using the turret off of the LAV-AD would be closer to reality.




I do not think it would be a problem. The M1047 vehicle family, what became the Marine LAVs, were originaly designed for the Army Light Divisions, 6ID, 7ID, 25ID, and the 29ID. When the Army did not go with them thay were handed off to the Marines.

I really can't see it happening since they even decided that the LAV-AD was not needed and pulled from service. Even the M6 Bradley Linebacker was converted back to a non-ADA role.

But if you wanted to do a what if, using the USMC's LAV-AD would make the most sense to create an ADA Stryker.

Thanks for the help everyone! I really wasn't looking for something too far fetched, but the Stryker w/ the ADA system would add something mean to my collection!!

Thanks sabot for the box shot..gotta check my LHS for that one

There's also a Trumpeter version someone mentioned earlier. It is a more recent kit and probably more readily available. The Italeri kit, on the other hand, is probably very cheap if you can find it online in a buy/trade forum.

The HMMWV Avenger originated in the Army. The Avenger/Linebacker is gone. MOS is gone. 14R reclessed to 14J/S.... HMMWV Avengers have been relegated to the NG.

Just my 2 cents,

I commend your efforts to come up with a more tactically oriented air defense vehicle. I would definitely advise against reusing an avenger turret; but something more along the lines that was shown in the pic immediately previous to my post, or the marine LAV turret would work much better. The reason? the Avenger system is deceptively heavy and very high profile; even on a Stryker base that much weight in the air could wreak havoc with the vehicles maneuverability. An AMRAAM (the army's developmental system is called a SLAMRAAM) based variant might work, but to keep weight and size within realistic limits you probably couldn't mount more than 2-4 missiles on the chassis, the Norwegians have a system which would be relatively easy to scratchbuild: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASAMS

I would propose the before mentioned vulcan SPAAG cannon. While the vulcan was retired, the army now uses something called a C-RAM; essentially a re-purposed naval short range anti-missile defense turret. Last I heard, they wanted to make a mobile version of the system (which would be AWESOME) but, you could mock some neat stuff up on your Stryker with the vulcan (and that would be the more useful system since it would be capable of off-road movement); and say that it would be used for escorting convoys with the express mission of countering low level air attack and airborne projectiles like artillery rounds, mortars, rockets etc. For that you'd probably want to add something to represent a 360* radar, and something to represent a FLIR scope and a TV camera, and a veritable forest of antennas. Another possibility could be a mixed turret similar to what used to be used on the (now retired, unfortunately) M6 Linebacker-a conventional cannon with a short range air defense missile. You could borrow a LAV turret and mount it with a single, or possibly two missile pods.

And if you got really crazy you could chop the back half of the superstructure off and make a flat deck to mount your weapons of choice on.

I'm a sucker for gatling guns, what if you went with the M-163 cannon with an enclosed turret more like a Bradley? I tried a gun/missile what-if a while back, but based on a 6x6 instead of a 8x8 LAV.




Whatever you decide, keep us updated. I get a kick out of what-if subjects and I think air defence conversions lend themselves well to wiffery.

That one is really cool Graeme!

I think the idea of an AAA Stryker to complete the line-up is a great idea even if only a what-if. I'd be inclined to go for the MMEV version pictured near the to p of this thread, but that's a lot of scratch-building. In keeping with other Strykers I would not go with the LAV ADV turret. It's a manned turret while all other Strykers have unmanned "turrets" (TUA, MGS etc). As it's a what-if, you should use a bit of artistic licence and design your own, maybe based on the TUA with a stinger pod taken from an Avenger?

It's only taken me 6 years to get around to this!

This is my current project for a What-if group build on IPMS Ireland, and is more a "when-if" than a what-if, but I couldn't remember where the seed was first planted. Then found this thread and saw I had commented all those years ago,
I hope Jeff doesn't mind me posting here and that someone finds this interesting or inspiring!


First, some history: Currently there are 10 variants of the US Army Strykers:

M1129A & B are basically same vehicle with different armament. Similarily there are different sub-variants of the 1130 & 1132

Initially the thinkong behind the Stryker programme was that heavier armed vehicles and air-defense would not be required. However the US Army are currently trialing a new version with a 30mm canon in a turret. This is a direct result of recent Russian moves in Crimea and Ukraine.

https://www.armytimes.com/articles/army-receives-first-stryker-upgraded-with-30mm-cannon

And now we get into the realms of speculation. In my opinion one of the glaring omissions of the Stryker line-up was an Air Defence version. So my entry will be an ADA Stryker which I believe we will eventually see in the real world also. And then during the build I came across this article which backs up my theory:

http://breakingdefense.com/2017/04/boeing-upgrades-air-defense-vs-russians-avenger-shorad/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=50719832&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_nwH5N_n8R1nWDK4CtMtrI1R75hxhE5GM09cx40esYhboFCIgv8QKdUIH7fzaLF_9xczgRnaZeHvFz6N5_B1uARxAvBQ&_hsmi=50719832

So my version will be based on the M1128 Mobile Gun System platform, as it already has a "turret", and the Legend Productions ADATS system for the M1113







Started on the lower hull and rear while waiting for the ADATS to arrive. Wouldn't touch the upper hull until I see exactly what surgery in needed



And then the postie delivered the ADATS last Friday! It's a lot of resin



Beautifully cast though



Plus a large fret of PE, some wire and decals for a Canadian vehicle. 2 double sided A4 pages of colour instructions.
A lot of the bits are for the body on an M113 so won't be used

Got the main bit of surgery completed. Lots of filling to do but happy with the new top deck




And over a very productive weekend the ADATS turret is now together. Some pretty large pour blocks to be removed but no real issues except the sheer volume of resin bits. Lots of sawing and sanding and filing....
Doing Tamiya tape straps with PE buckles was the hardest bit though



So here is how she looks now. I'll keep the two missile units off till after painting. One is held on here with blue-tac





And how it will look on the hull. A bit bulky but doesn't seem too out of proportion or unrealistic to my biased eye



Tonight I start detailing the upper hull

Didn't the Canadians at one time seriously consider genuinely cross-decking some of their ADATS systems from M113 to the Piranha III chassis? If I recall correctly cost got in the way: $$$$$$$.....

All this getting rid of SHORAD systems in major armies is going to come home to roost if we ever face a real enemy with tactical air assets and attack helos. We won't always be fighting insurgents. The SHORAD version of the UK FRES, now Scout/Ajax, family to replace the current HVM Stormer was deleted from the programme a decade ago. OK, so in many respects and situations an attack helo can be treated as a ground target and engaged with normal weapons. But tactical air is an altogether different matter.

Thanks Sean for keeping the idea alive ! The ADATS system looks perfectly balanced and realistic imho. !

Awesome work so far

Thanks Jeff. Tempted to go for it yourself now?

Peter, if you see the article I linked above SHORAD is starting to be taken more seriously these days. As I said this is more of a when-if than a what-if. (design & colour may vary from illustration)

Sure looks like a fun project! I may have to scrounge thru the attic for my partial built mgs

Very cool. Looking forward to some more progress.

thanks for building this very impressive vehicle now trumpy will probably release a plastic version , Looking good so far

Like what your doing!!
Like the look of this one

Thanks Gents.

I had seen that pic Peter and was part of the inspiration for this build. But decided not to try converting the Legend ADATS just in case I made a mess (which I probably would have done)

More pics at the weekend

I'm happy to see this since I have a SHORAD C4I background. The Army is in the process of bringing back SHORAD. There will be a SHORAD corral happening soon where the vendors will bring out their concepts of the new Air Defense systems. like a TOW, Stinger, and laser concept on an Avenger style turret. What would help a lot is to digitize the Avenger turret and remote control systems. Its like what the Polish did to the SA-6 Straight Flush radar. It frees up a lot of weight and adds more space inside.

Thanks Wayne. I know this may not be very realistic but I think more than Boeing will enter the current SHORAD competition so it may not be an updated Avenger system that is selected.

Finally got all the little bits attached and she is finally ready for the paint shop. I did get distracted by another quick fun project. That happens a lot





Unfortunately the airbrush can't come out till the weekend so in the meantime where did I put the Westminster?