Quote Originally Posted by Fuchs View Post
The whole IFV concept is in question; the Israelis for example never adopted the idea of an IFV and the IFV concept was never really tested in a fair HIC.
Neither is the Bradley, really, they're both APCs, two different types for two different roles.
A 25mm weapon (even if completely externally mounted and not costing a single dismount seat) should not be necessary on a Stryker. Stryker is meant to be an PC (and specialty vehicles), not IFV.
True.
The problem is that the MGS is a big, not really agile but thin-walled target that hasn't enough ammunition* for its job.
True but for less than HIC it is marginally adequate for PC/IFV kills and bunker busting and that was known when it was purchased. Again, it was cheap and required less development time.
Such a medium tank could have become the base for FCS and an alternative to M1A2 for heavy forces operations in difficult terrain.
The FCS is still in flux, we'll have to wait to see what spirals out (if we get the money to buy it-- which is not guaranteed).