Leonardo DRS to integrate BMS for Thai Stryker fleet

Leonardo DRS is to integrate battle management systems (BMS) for the Stryker fleet used by the Royal Thai Army, according to a 13th February news release from Leonardo. 

The company is set to work with Chaiseri Defence from Thailand to integrate its ruggedised Mounted Family of Computer Systems (MFoCS) which are used by the US Army onto Thailand’s Strykers under a $7 million contract awarded by the US Army through the US Government Grant Assistance program. 

The MFoCS is a suite of ruggedised computers and screens that can be used to host a BMS on an armoured vehicle withstanding the shocks and vibration that armoured platforms are typically exposed to. The family of computers provides sufficient processing power to run a variety of battle management programmes like the US Army’s FBCB2 and UK’s Bowman. It is also marketed as being extremely secure, allowing separated enclaves within a network to protect information. 

Thailand received US government approval to purchase 60 Stryker 8×8 armoured fighting vehicles in the infantry carrier variant from General Dynamics in 2019. They were intended to replace Thailand’s fleet of tracked M113s, and some at least were sourced from US reserves, before being repaired at the Anniston Army Depot. There were also reports from the US in 2022 that an unknown quantity of M1129 Stryker mortar vehicles would be transferred to the Royal Thai Army. 

Calibre comment

Leonardo is understood to be supplying similar equipment to several recipients of US armoured vehicles, including the M1 Abrams tanks that are to be delivered to Romania and Poland amongst others. The MFoCS supports interoperability between the US and its partners, helping them share information. 

The Strykers join an eclectic mix of Ukrainian, Chinese, and American armoured vehicles including M60 series tanks as well as the VT4 main battle tank and VN1 8×8 armoured vehicle, both from China. The country also operates some T-84 Oplot tanks and BTR-3 8x8s from Ukraine. The status of these vehicles is unclear, but it is unlikely to be easy to maintain such a diverse fleet of vehicles.