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Is the Bradley Fighting Vehicle Too Old? Tell That To Ukraine

Troopers with 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division firing the 25mm canon on a Bradley fighting vehicle in order to zero the vehicles weapons systems at a range in Poland. Ranges such as these familiarize troopers with the vehicles systems in order to ensure combat readiness.
Troopers with 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division firing the 25mm canon on a Bradley fighting vehicle in order to zero the vehicles weapons systems at a range in Poland. Ranges such as these familiarize troopers with the vehicles systems in order to ensure combat readiness.

Bradley Fighting Vehicle Is a Certified Hit in Ukraine: Is the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle too old and ready for retirement?

Not if you’re part of the Ukrainian Army fighting the Russians in the Donbas Region.

Ukrainian soldiers are giving the Bradley Fighting Vehicle rave reviews for its firepower, speed, mobility, and surprising survivability against larger Russian tanks and armored personnel carriers.

The Ukrainians were quickly trained and up to speed on the Bradley, and the old battle wagon was making a difference against the Russians.

Ukrainian soldiers are using the Bradley not only to bring troops to the battlefield but also as a light tank. This has been a pleasant surprise for the U.S. Army and the Pentagon. It was conceivable that the Bradley would be too fragile and finicky for the rigors of the war in Ukraine.

For example, the muddy summer battlefields could have swallowed the tracks on the infantry fighting vehicle, freezing it in place for easy pickings from enemy gunners. Also, its lighter armor could have been a liability against Russian anti-tank missiles and drones.

To be sure, the Ukrainians have lost more than a few Bradleys to enemy fire, but the combat vehicle must be graded a success so far.

Why Is the Bradley So Good?

As Business Insider reported on July 13, “the capabilities that it brings in terms of speed, its ability to keep up with the tanks, your ability to move infantry squads in a protected manner across the battlefield very quickly, and its fairly robust armor package — along with the capabilities of the weapons systems on there — make it a very effective infantry fighting vehicle.”

The United States has sent around 300 Bradleys to Ukraine as part of a series of assistance packages it announced in 2023. First introduced in 1983, the Bradley has been a mainstay of the U.S. Army’s mechanized forces for decades. It was a star performer in Operation Desert Storm and a key contributor during the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003. But it wasn’t primarily a stand-out performer during the counter-insurgency fight post-Saddam Hussein because the Bradley was designed more for armored force-on-force warfare against the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

During the Iraqi insurgency, the battle became a test of wills for Bradley operators to avoid roadside bombs, mines, and other improvised explosive devices.

Making the Russian Army Pay

That is why it is so gratifying to see the Ukrainians take the fight to the Russian armored forces in their Bradleys.

The fighting vehicle can move between the trenches, destroy enemy bunkers and emplacements, transport an infantry squad to protective cover, and scout out where the Russians are hiding.

More Details on the Bradley IFV

Bradleys are faster than they look—they can travel at 40 miles per hour on roads. The main armament is a 25mm M242 chain gun. This Bushmaster gun is surprisingly powerful, and the Russians have learned to avoid it or pay the price. The Bradley has a three-man crew and can carry six soldiers in the rear.

Another option for the Ukrainians is to use the TOW missile launcher on board with a range of around two miles and the extra 7.62mm machine gun to eliminate troops in the open. There are ports in the Bradley that allow soldiers inside to fire their M4s at the enemy.

Upgrades Make It More Lethal

According to Military.com, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle A2 ODS upgrade has an “eye-safe laser rangefinder, global positioning, and navigation systems, and an enhanced driver’s vision device.” These improvements were made after battlefield recommendations from soldiers who served in Operation Desert Storm.

My experience with the Bradley is limited since I was a light infantry soldier—we had only up-armored Humvees in my unit—but I definitely saw the Bradley in action. I was always surprised by its speed and size. It doesn’t look that big in person, and the soldiers must really have to pack in tight to fit inside.

My U.S. Army Experience: Do Troops Need to Be ‘Brainwashed’ to Use the Bradley?

When I enlisted in the Army in 1999, my drill sergeants used to tell us that they had to “brainwash” soldiers to ride in the Bradley. Some personnel were scared that the Bradley could not sustain a hit from a tank and would burst into flames, scorching the people inside and leading to untimely deaths.

So far, the Ukrainians haven’t complained about that, so it’s good to see that the friendly forces are using the Bradley to full effect. Look for the United States to send more infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine.

The U.S. Army has been watching closely to see which combat vehicle platforms can operate effectively there, and the Bradley deserves a high grade. It might be “too old” for some, but the age is right for Ukraine.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.

Brent M. Eastwood
Written By

Dr. Brent M. Eastwood is the author of Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare. He is an Emerging Threats expert and former U.S. Army Infantry officer. You can follow him on Twitter @BMEastwood. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and Foreign Policy/ International Relations.

4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. Matthew Schlosser

    August 6, 2024 at 9:20 am

    The good thing about the Bradley is the Bushmaster. The bad thing is the lack of protection against anything heavier than a machine gun. I’d be thrilled to fight a Bradley against the Russians all day long… from behind a berm.

  2. Doyle

    August 6, 2024 at 9:28 am

    I saw several videos earlier in the war of the Ukrainians using M113s to good use too. I also saw a video of a Bradley that took a Russian tank round and kept right on working. The video of the Bradley that took on a modern Russian tank and beat it was epic.

  3. M Wald

    August 6, 2024 at 2:58 pm

    I was both heavy and light as an infantryman. Commanded a Bradley company in Germany in the mid-to-late’80s. We kept ammo uploaded in the motor pool and had alerts & rolled to our General Defensive Positions at least once a month. I arrived right after fielding in 3rd ID. Everyone was happy to be rid of the M113s … to include the tankers because now we could keep up. Trained in gunnery all the time, which was new for infantrymen. Cramped in the back. I had assisted with prototype trials at FT Knox after the BMO course earlier. Original was much, much faster, but they put governors on because tracks wore out too fast. Interesting to watch them evolve, as well as the M1.

  4. Pingback: Ukraine’s Bradley Fighting Vehicle Dilemma Looks Like a Mess – Shopmaisonbouey

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