Just days before their arrival in the country, the Argentine Army continues to advance in the incorporation process of its first 8×8 M1126 Stryker armored combat vehicles (VCBR). More specifically, as officially reported yesterday, November 19, on its official social media accounts, a group of service members completed intensive courses in the United States on the operation, safety, and maintenance of the new armored platform, which is set to become a key component of the Rapid Deployment Force (FDR).
The signing of the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) last July, during an official visit to the United States by the Minister of Defense, Luis Petri, brought an end to a long wait for the Argentine Army while marking the beginning of the process to incorporate a new wheeled armored platform — a long-standing requirement for the service.
Through the strengthening of defense relations between Argentina and the United States, as well as cooperation between both armies, preparations were made for the transfer of the first batch of Stryker armored vehicles in the M1126 personnel carrier configuration, along with the deployment of Argentine personnel to take part in the training and familiarization courses for the 8×8 APC.
These courses began in early November, in parallel with progress on preparations for the arrival of the first batch of armored vehicles to the country. The intensive training has been conducted by General Dynamics personnel and includes both theoretical and practical instruction on the operation and maintenance of the Stryker.
In this regard, the Argentine Army reported yesterday: “…A group of drivers has completed an intensive training course on the operation, safety, and maintenance of the 8×8 Stryker vehicle, preparing them to operate the new vehicles that the Army will be incorporating in the coming days.”
Finally, regarding the arrival of the first units, it was the Minister of Defense himself who recently stated: “The F-16s arrive on December 5, the Strykers arrive on November 20. We are meeting goals that the Forces have had for a very long time.” However, as of the time of this publication, no further official details have been released to clarify whether the first batch of 8×8 APCs is currently en route to Argentina.
Photos: Argentine Army.
