The U.S. Army Is Getting 200 New A4 Bradley Fighting Vehicles

Summary and Key Points: The Bradley Fighting Vehicle has exceeded expectations in the war in Ukraine, proving to be a fast, maneuverable asset with effective firepower, including a 25mm Bushmaster chain gun and TOW missile launcher. In response to its success, the U.S. Army has ordered 200 new Bradley A4 variants, featuring improved connectivity, command and control, and enhanced digitized communication for better data sharing. The A4 and A4E1 versions will serve in various roles, including reconnaissance and mechanized warfare. Upcoming training in the U.S., Germany, and South Korea will prepare troops to effectively deploy these upgraded Bradleys in future conflicts.

More Iconic Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Join U.S. Army

The performance of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle must go down as one of the most pleasant surprises of the war in Ukraine. Gifted by the United States, the Bradley is just what the doctor ordered.

It is fast and maneuverable, plus the 25mm Bushmaster chain gun and the onboard TOW missile launcher are doing better than expected, even taking out at least one Russian T-90 tank. And it is adroitly providing cover fire to maneuvering troops. Not to mention it carries a squad of soldiers inside.

The Ukrainians are fighting now on two fronts – in Kursk oblast in Russia and in the Donbas region, specifically in Donetsk and Luhansk, where the trench warfare is rampant – and where the Bradley has enjoyed so much success.

200 New Bradleys Coming to an Army Unit Near You

The U.S. Army has watched this develop with glee and they are opening up the purse strings to buy even more Bradleys for the home team. The Army placed an order for 200 new Bradleys at a cost of $400 million from BAE Systems.

“The Bradley Fighting Vehicle brings game-changing capabilities to the Army and our allied nations,” said Dan Furber, director of ground vehicle production for BAE Systems’ Combat Mission Systems division.

New A4 Version Will Turn Some Heads

To be sure, defense contractors always say nice things about weapons that they just sold, but this time the Bradleys are definitely worth the praise and the money. Included in the order will be the Bradley A4 variant that is even better than the older models the Ukrainians are using to great effect.

What Is Special About the New Variant?

The A4s have improved connectivity with enhanced levels of command and control. Communication is everything in battle and the A4s don’t disappoint in this area. The connectivity is digitized so that heightens the level of data sharing between other Bradleys and M1 Abrams tanks. This is why the army is so excited that A4s will be interspersed in the Armored Brigade Combat Teams that are tasked to conduct mechanized warfare to the fullest potential.

Bradleys in a Cavalry Role

I also like the Bradley serving with Armored Cavalry Regiments. The vehicle can conduct reconnaissance missions with a squad of cavalry scouts who can dismount and collect intelligence and surveillance data. This means operating to the front or the flanks of armored columns so the entire unit can have better situational awareness.

There Is Also An Improved A4

The Bradley A4s have even advanced to the A4E1 variants that the manufacturer says have an, “Active Protection System, an improved gunner sight, and a more efficient air conditioning system.”

Bradleys Go to the Troops In a Variety of Roles

Now, what is next for Bradley in the U.S. Army? Training—and lots of it. First, the Army will rotate battalions of the Armored Brigade Combat Teams to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. This is where Bradley crews get baptized with the most realistic war games in the world—whether on flatter desert terrain or urban warfare scenarios.

They Are Needed in Germany

Next, they will be put through their paces in Germany, working with NATO troops and preparing for the event that Vladimir Putin tries to pick a fight with another European country that would trigger a NATO Article V situation in which the United States would be forced to support one of its allies in a shooting war.

Don’t Forget Training at the Korean DMZ

Also, the Bradley will get work in South Korea operating near the DMZ and with Republic of Korea troops in combined arms and multinational exercises. When I served in Korea just before 9/11 in 2001, I asked my platoon sergeant, who had Korean experience before my deployment, what to expect. I’ll never forget what he said. “Korea, he exclaimed, “is made for war!”

The terrain near the DMZ is hilly and rocky, but the Bradley has served in South Korea for decades, so it is up to the task. Those American soldiers stationed at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, probably can’t wait for the new A4 and A4E1 Bradleys to join the force. As a light infantry soldier, I have no direct experience with the Bradley, but I have seen them in action, and they are surprisingly fast and smaller than I expected. The Bushmaster chain gun is unique.

You mechanized infantry folks who spent your careers with the Bradley are probably saying I told you so, especially those who rode in the infantry fighting vehicle during Operation Desert Storm.

All told, Bradley will have a large role in mechanized warfare going forward. Look for the Army to buy more of the latest versions and send the older ones to Ukraine. That appears to be a recipe for success. Expect Putin and his generals to regret having to engage Bradley on the battlefield.

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.