The US Army has issued a $350 million contract for 771 M707 Striker forward observer vehicles. These mount the mission package from the Bradley Fire Support vehicle in an M1025A2 Humvee. The Army expects to field the first Strikers with combat observer and laser designator teams by March 2001 to replace older M981 tracked fire support team vehicles. The same equipment will be included in the Interim Armored Vehicle, which is intended to equip the new medium brigades.--Stephen V Cole