Army Paints Stryker Vehicles Tan to Enhance Camouflage in Afghanistan and Iraq

As the U.S. Army continues to engage in combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the decision has been made to paint Stryker armored vehicles tan to improve their camouflage in desert environments. This initiative, aimed at safeguarding soldiers, has been in the works since 2004, but it wasn't until 2019 that the phase-out of the green-painted vehicles began. The tan-colored Strykers will be rolled out in phases, with the first units already undergoing the change at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar. The decision to switch to tan is a response to concerns that the green-painted vehicles stood out like silhouettes in the desert terrain, making them more visible to enemy forces. By painting the Strykers tan, the Army hopes to reduce the risk of soldiers being targeted.

Key Takeaways:

• The U.S. Army has decided to paint Stryker armored vehicles tan to enhance camouflage in Afghanistan and Iraq, with the primary purpose being soldier safety.
• The initiative has been in the works since 2004, but the phase-out of the green-painted vehicles has only recently begun.
• The first units to undergo the change are being replaced at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, with the Army aiming to transition all deployed units to the new color.
• The decision to switch to tan is a response to concerns that the green-painted vehicles were too visible in the desert terrain, making them more vulnerable to enemy fire.
• Soldiers in the field will not be authorized to repaint the Strykers themselves, with only authorized facilities in Qatar allowed to make the change.
• The phase-out tempo will be set by unit repair and retrofit needs, with the Army aiming to make desert tan the standard color for all Strykers in the future.

Statistics:

• Over 6 years, talks about changing the color of the Strykers from green to tan occurred, with no firm plan until 2019.
• The first Stryker units to be painted tan are being deployed to Kandahul and Zabul provinces in Afghanistan.
• Strykers are currently being rolled off the production line in Michigan and Canada in green color, with the Army planning to change the deployed units to tan at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar.
• U.S. forces in Iraq are mostly confined to bases and drawing down, making the change of the Stryker color less relevant in this context.

Sources:

• "Army paint Strykers tan to camouflage in Afghanistan and Iraq", Euclid Infotech Pvt. Ltd, 2019.