The M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle has become an integral part of the arsenal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and has proven to be an effective and reliable weapon in the fight against Russian armored vehicles. It is not only a symbol of American technological superiority, but also the most reliable ally in conducting combat operations on the modern battlefield.
The United States transferred 190 M2 Bradley BMPs to Ukraine. It is known that the operator of American vehicles is the 47th separate mechanized brigade. Analysts call BMP not just a "combat taxi", but a full-fledged armed platform that can cover allied infantry. Focus figured out what is special about the M2A2 ODS-SA, why it was so loved by the Ukrainian military, and what capabilities the machine has.
Ukraine received a non-modern version of the M2 Bradley BMP. In the United States, there are up to 9 modifications. The Armed Forces received the M2 A2 ODS-SA, which is an upgrade developed after the experience of the US Army in Iraq. ODS is an acronym for Operation Desert Storm, which took place in 1991.
The M2 Bradley was created as a vehicle for transporting mechanized infantry to the battlefield in close contact with the enemy. However, unlike its predecessor, the M113 armored personnel carrier, the Bradley is not just a "combat taxi". The new BMP is a full-fledged combat platform that can provide direct support to allied infantry. Machine role:
- safe transportation of infantry to the front line;
- providing fire support to cover amphibious operations;
- destruction of enemy armored vehicles, including tanks.
During the Persian Gulf War of 1990-1991, M2 Bradleys proved so effective that they destroyed more Iraqi armored vehicles than M1 Abrams tanks. However, he also discovered the shortcomings of the combat vehicle. Therefore, during the modernization of the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, the FBCB2 combat information and control system was equipped. It allows data exchange with reconnaissance satellites and all other units that also have FBCB2.
The main works related to optics, so that the crew had the opportunity to work in different conditions. For this, an ELRF laser range finder from the Fire Control Systems company was installed. Its range is 10 km. To better orient the machine on the battlefield, a digital DCS navigation system and a tactical TACNAV navigation system appeared. The driver-mechanic received a thermal imager, and the car's protection was improved with an infrared passive protection system against anti-tank weapons.
An example of how the analysis of the US military experience works is the following fact. In the M2A2 ODS-SA, benches were installed in the landing compartment instead of individual seats. Application in battles has shown that soldiers leave the car faster from the ranks than from individual seats. They are attached to the walls of the car so that during a mine detonation, the energy from the explosion is less transmitted to the fighters inside.
Fighters of the 47th separate brigade have repeatedly destroyed enemy infantry, armored personnel carriers, BMPs and even tanks. The M2 Bradley is a combination of three key elements: armor, manufacturability and combat capability. Before the start of the full-scale war, the Ukrainian army had only Soviet BMP-1, 2 and 3. After the start of February 24, 2022, the Defense Forces began to receive BMPs of Western manufacturers. Including:
- CV9040 from Sweden;
- Rosomak from Poland;
- M2A2 ODS-SA Bradley from the USA;
- Marder M1A3 from Germany and hundreds of others.
All of them are many times better than Soviet cars. Operators of the new combat vehicles say that it is like switching from a Zhiguli to a Mercedes. It does not make much sense to compare the combat capabilities of Western BMPs, because they differ in details. In general, this is a new level of opportunities for the Ukrainian military.
In addition to the basic powerful protection, the M2 Bradley has a specially designed dynamic BRAT protection. Bradley Reactive Armor Tiles are RAFAEL's development for lightly armored vehicles. Additional protection was also used during the war in Iraq. It should protect the car from anti-tank weapons.
The Russian army also installs dynamic protection on lightly armored vehicles. However, the key difference is that APCs or even armored vehicles are equipped with the "Kontakt" DZ, which is designed for tanks. The thin armor of an armored personnel carrier or an infantry fighting vehicle may not withstand the activation of "Contact" and penetrate the defense inside. Therefore, the occupiers, in an attempt to increase the protection of equipment, are actually doing worse.
The Bradley Combat Module contains a 25mm Bushmaster M242 automatic cannon and a TOW-2B ATGM. The cannon has a rate of fire of 200-500 rounds per minute. Fire can be carried out by two types of ammunition: armor-piercing high-explosive and high-explosive fragmentation. The cannon is fully stabilized, so it can aim fire while moving. The TOW-2B anti-tank system is launched from inside the vehicle. The range is up to 4.5 km.
During the full-scale war, the 47th brigade hit a significant amount of equipment and enemy equipment, but the episode of neutralizing the newest Russian T-90M "Breakthrough" tank received special publicity. As the soldiers said after the battle, the first BMP had technical problems, so the second one came to replace it and "flew out of character".
"They were all in a row... Once I played computer games, then I remembered everything. How to hit those tanks, and where to hit them, because I had to stop them at any cost," recalls commander-gunner Serhii about the battle against the T-90M.
The third element of the advantage of the M2 Bradley BMP is its manufacturability, which is also superior to Soviet models. For example, the M2 has a SADA-II thermal imaging system — the same one installed on Abrams tanks at the disposal of the Armed Forces. The complex has a range of up to 5 km, which means that the commander of the vehicle will be the first to detect the Russian vehicle and be able to open fire. In principle, Soviet BMPs do not have thermal imaging sights.
The 47th separate mechanized brigade has repeatedly demonstrated high skill in repelling Russian attacks in the Avdiiv direction. This prompted the manufacturer BAE Systems to announce the resumption of production of the BMP along with the M777 howitzer. The decision is associated with a high demand for weapons.
The high efficiency of the M2 Bradley during the Russian-Ukrainian war did not cancel the US plans to develop the next version of the machine. In November 2023, the concept of the BMP XM30 was presented, which should become the main infantry fighting vehicle in the US Army.
The XM30 is part of a wider OMFV tracked vehicle development programme. It is assumed that the new BMP will be a leap in the development of technology and will be able to be unmanned. The M2 Bradley is called the one that has already reached the limit in modernization. Five companies are engaged in the development of the successor, each of which must present its vision:
- Point Blank Enterprises;
- Oshskosh Defense;
- BAE Systems Land and Armaments;
- General Dynamics Land Systems:
- American Rheinmetall.
The total value of the contracts is estimated at $299.4 million.
