Trump’s Canada Tariffs Will Crush the Stryker Combat Vehicle
The Stryker combat vehicle is integral to the ability of the United States and its allies to wage war. The only problem? It’s made in Canada—and is subject to Trump’s new tariffs.
The Trump administration is promising that the month of April will be a massively destabilizing one in America’s trade relationship with some of its closest neighbors (notably Canada).
In response, there has been much caterwauling from the usual suspects. And while America’s trade profile must fundamentally change, and Trump’s calls to reorder trade are grounded in reality, the fact remains that the pain will be felt everywhere for a period of time until the country can reorient itself and adapt to the new paradigm.
One of the areas in which the country will struggle is in its military domain. Surprisingly, and concerning from a national security perspective, there are some weapons platforms that the U.S. military relies upon that are not built here in the United States—but in allied countries like neighboring Canada.
One of these systems is the Stryker Combat Vehicle, is the primary combat support platform for the U.S. Army.
Some Basic Facts About the Stryker Combat System
There are currently nine Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCTs) and 4,466 individual Strykers, including various configurations, like the Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICVs) and Mobile Gun Systems (MGS).
The Strykers are manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada (GDLS-C) at a plant in London, Ontario. Starting on April 2, the plant—and all the Strykers built there—will be subject to President Trump’s pending 25 percent tariff on automobiles emanating from Canada.
Given the importance that the Stryker has for the U.S. Army, and the fact that American factories remain incapable of replacing foreign-produced goods with domestically made products, the entire Stryker force will be in trouble until a resolution can be had. Indeed, it’s a rather damning factoid that has come from the tariff debate about just how dependent on foreign produced goods the United States—even its vaunted military—really is.
Named after two Medal of Honor recipients, Stuart S. Stryker and Robert F. Stryker, the Stryker Combat Vehicle was introduced to the United States Army in the early 2000s as part of the Army’s transformation into a more agile and deployable force.
An eight-wheeled, medium-weight vehicle, the Stryker system serves as a key bridge between the lighter, more vulnerable units of the Army and the heavy armored forces, such as Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), offering the Army a balance of mobility, protection, and firepower.
The Strykers are built in Canada because the Pentagon based their design for the vehicle off the Canadian LAV III (Light Armored Vehicle III)—itself an offshoot of the Swiss Piranha family of wheeled combat vehicles. The Strykers have formed the mobile infantry backbone of the Army in multiple conflicts, from the Iraq War of 2003 to Afghanistan, and even the ongoing Ukraine War. This vehicle has proven essential in both conventional and unconventional warfare.
Beyond the ICV and MGS, there are other variants that include the Mortar Carrier, the Reconnaissance Vehicle, Command Vehicle, Fire Support Vehicle, Engineer Squad Vehicle, the Medical Evacuation Vehicle, Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicle, and Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) Reconnaissance Vehicle.
The Stryker’s Firepower
The Stryker’s weapons loadout varies between models. The ICV has a .50-caliber machine gun or a 40mm grenade launcher, providing suppressive fire for dismounted infantry. The MGS variant, meanwhile, sports a 105mm M68A1 cannon, capable of engaging light armored vehicles and fortifications alike.
Other variants, like the Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicle, carry TOW missile launchers, extending the Stryker’s reach against enemy armor. This array of weaponry ensures that Stryker units can engage a broad spectrum of targets, from infantry and bunkers to tanks and low-flying aircraft.
The Stryker’s main design focuses on speed and deployability, key attributes for rapid-response forces. Weighing approximately 19 tons, it is significantly lighter than MBTs like the M1 Abrams (which exceeds 60 tons). Its aforementioned eight-wheel configuration is powered by a 350-horsepower Caterpillar diesel engine that enables it to reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour on roads, with a range of around 300 miles before refueling. This mobility makes the Stryker better able to deploy quickly from the C-130 Hercules aircraft, a critical capability for expeditionary warfare.
Once on the ground, the Stryker’s low-weight and wheeled design make it less taxing on bridges and roads compared to tracked vehicles, enhancing its operational flexibility in urban and rural environments alike.
The vehicle’s baseline armor provides all-around protection against 14.5mm rounds, while additional appliqué armor kits, such as slat armor and reactive armor, can be fitted to counter rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan exposed initial vulnerabilities to these threats, prompting upgrades like the Double-V Hull (DVH) modification, introduced in 2011, which significantly improved survivability against mines and IEDs—the importance of which was underscored by America’s sordid experience during the Iraq War.
Keeping the Strykers Relevant
These speedy war machines come with advanced electronics and communication systems to further enhance their battlefield effectiveness. Equipped with the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) System, it provides real-time situational awareness, allowing crews to track friendly forces, share intelligence, and coordinate movements. This networked capability aligns with the Army’s emphasis on information dominance, making the Stryker a “smart” platform that integrates seamlessly into joint and coalition operations.
Despite its strengths, there are challenges and criticisms that the Stryker has faced. Early deployments, for example, revealed limitations in off-road performance—particularly in the rugged and undeveloped terrain of Afghanistan, a land devoid of roadways and replete with rugged mountains.
There are maintenance issues, too—notably in the MGS variant, which is more plagued by maintenance issues than the other variants of the Stryker Combat Vehicle. The cost of the MGS has generated controversy, with each unit costing several million dollars, depending on its configuration.
Further, even though the Stryker excels at rapid deployment and in urban combat operations, it is not designed to face off against modern MBTs in a direct fight, necessitating careful tactical deployment.
To keep the Strykers relevant to the ever-changing modern battlefield, the Army is integrating advanced technologies, such as the 30mm autocannon-equipped Stryker Dragoon for enhanced lethality and active protection systems to counter anti-tank threats. These upgrades reflect a commitment to keeping the platform relevant in an era of near-peer competition, where adversaries like Russia and China field sophisticated armored forces.
The Army has made significant investments in this system. What’s more, for better or worse, the Stryker is integral to the ability of the United States and its allies to wage war.
Trump’s Tariffs Will Hurt the U.S. Military, Too
The Trump administration’s tariffs on Canadian automobiles—which technically include the Stryker—will be a seriously complicating factor to keep the Strykers operational and the force well-stocked. After all, it won’t only be new units that are pricier because of the 25 percent tariff. The supply chain supporting the existing fleet of Strykers will be affected, too.
Ultimately, the Americans will have to adapt. Trump has long made his indignation clear at unfair foreign trade practices—and has identified Canada as among the most serious offenders. But there is no question that his proposed solutions will hurt American consumers and businesses in the short run. As the Stryker shows, the U.S. military will be no exception.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Belish.