It is a less-known fact that the American Stryker vehicles are also used in military engineering squads. There, they are equipped with specialized add-on devices to facilitate different tasks, such as clearing minefields.
Stryker ESV (M1132) – illustrative photo. Image credit: Gertrud Zach via Wikimedia
According to the open source intelligence community OSINT, Ukraine already operates Strykers with mine rollers, also known as mine clearance blades.
The United States approved the transfer of 90 Stryker armored vehicles to Ukraine. This number included at least 20 specialized engineering squad vehicles M1132 (ESV) will a full set of gear needed to neutralize anti-tank and anti-personnel mines.
US supplied Stryker IFVs in Ukrainian service, as seen here, a mine-roller equipped M1132 Engineer Squad Vehicle (ESV) is followed by an M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV). pic.twitter.com/4ahPxJhXot
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) April 6, 2023
What makes M1132 different compared to other demining equipment?
M1132 is not a simple engineering vehicle. It maintains the same level of protection as regular combat models, and can fully support military engineers on the battlefield. They also carry obstacle-clearing and mine-detection devices, as well as a mine-clearance blade.
Depending on mission requirements, M1132 can tow a wheeled trailer containing additional equipment that can be used by the engineering squad specialists.
The vehicle is also armed with an M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun or MK19 40 mm grenade launcher mounted in a remote weapon station. It is not known yet which kind of armament is present on the units transferred to Ukraine.
M1132 can reach a maximum speed of up to 100 km/h (62 mph), and has an operational range of up to 500 km (300 miles).
