May 11, 2007: The U.S. Army has received the first of ten Stryker vehicle simulators. Costing $800,000 each, they duplicate the driver and commander stations, using several video screens to display computer supplied views of where they are. Using the same kind of 3-D graphics found in high-end video games, the Stryker simulator becomes "immersive" (the user forgets they are in a simulator.)

Armored vehicle simulators have become increasingly common in the American army. One reason is cost, because for each kilometer these vehicles travel, it costs up to $25 in fuel, maintenance and spare parts. That number is pretty shocking to most people, but armored vehicles cost up to five million dollars each, and are full of complex mechanical and electronic gadgets that wear out quickly.

The Stryker simulator allows new drivers to get lots of practice without wearing out vehicles. It also allows drivers and commanders to increase their teamwork, and to try out maneuvers that are risky, but sometimes necessary (in combat.) This also saves a lot of wear and tear, not to mention avoiding the risk of injury.

The software includes driving simulation for a wide variety of terrain (desert, mountain, urban) and weather (Summer rains, Spring mud and Winter ice).