North Macedonia shows its new Stryker ICVs

A Stryker vehicle, one of 17 presented to the Republic of North Macedonia on 25 March 2026 after a US Foreign Military Sale. (Republic of North Macedonia MoD)

After General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) handed over the first 17 of 42 Stryker infantry carrier vehicle (ICV) variants to the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia (Armija na Republika Severna Makedonija - ARSM) in February 2026, a presentation of some of the vehicles was held on 25 March near Skopje.

The M1126 Stryker 8x8 ICVs were part of a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 16 March 2021. Initially, North Macedonia planned an estimated USD210 million procurement of 54 Stryker vehicles under the FMS, including M1126 ICVs, M1130 command vehicles (CV), and M1129 mortar carrier vehicles (MCV). These quantities were reduced in 2024 to the current 42 vehicles. These were to be delivered in 2024 but saw delays, with first vehicles arrived in North Macedonia in February.

At the presentation at the Strasho Pindzur military barracks, part of the Petrovec air base, some 15 km south-east of Skopje, Macedonian defence minister Vlado Misajlovski said that the remaining 25 Strykers should be delivered during summer 2026. Misajlovski added that under an 8 March 2024 FMS the delivery of 96 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), 66 of them heavy gun-carriers 24 general purpose, and six close combat weapons carriers, had been completed. He said that North Macedonia's roughly 80 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) had had their serviceability improved through partnership with the US.

“This [acquisition] means a lot to us - it improves operability, increases mobility [of ARSM] and makes us more competitive compared to other [NATO] armies,” said Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, who was also present.