The M1126 Stryker is a family of wheeled 8x8/4 armored fighting vehicles produced by the US company General Dynamics Land Systems, which are in service with the US Army's mechanized forces. The Stryker was based on the Canadian LAV III armored personnel carrier, which, in turn, is a deep upgrade of Swiss Piranha III 8x8 armored personnel carrier. Combat vehicles of Stryker family are the main equipment of the US Army's Stryker brigades formed in the early 2000s and designed to transport infantry units (usually motorized infantry section) to the battlefield, conduct combat from the vehicle, fire support them during and after rush, and to fully support and provide combat operations of mechanized units of the US Army.