U.S. Army orders more Strykers

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich., Oct. 12 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army contracted General Dynamics Land Systems to deliver 352 Stryker eight-wheel-drive combat vehicles.

The U.S. Army TACOM Lifecycle Management Command awarded General Dynamics Land Systems with a $647 million contract that builds on a 2000 award.

The Stryker combat vehicle has a top speed of more than 60 miles per hour. Its range of 312 miles makes the vehicle a centerpiece of the U.S. Army's combat vehicle program, General Dynamics said.

The combat vehicle operates with the latest version of surveillance and reconnaissance equipment. It includes an armored system that protects combat soldiers against a variety of conventional and improvised munitions.

Strykers have logged more than 24 million miles during 12 duty rotations. The U.S. Army has seven Stryker Brigade Combat Teams in its arsenal. Two are deployed in Iraq, and one is deployed in Afghanistan.

General Dynamics Land Systems will conduct the work at facilities in Alabama, Michigan and Canada. Deliveries start in July.

General Dynamics said it has delivered close to 3,000 Strykers to date.