The Western infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) supplied to Ukraine are extremely valuable as they offer protection from mines, which the older Soviet-era models do not. Among these modern IFV types in Ukraine, one of the most prevalent and well-regarded designs is the American-made M2A2 Bradley.
Members of a Ukrainian team operating an M2A2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle from the 100th Mechanized Brigade spoke with Army TV about various subjects including their experiences with counter-mine tactics. During this discussion, the unit’s leader recounted encountering an anti-tank TM-62 mine at some stage during operations. Fortunately, despite setting off the device, nobody sustained injuries. All personnel managed to safely disembark from the vehicle after the incident—the track rollers suffered damage—but remarkably, none required medical attention for so much as a concussion.
These are just some of the numerous reports from Ukrainian troops who credit the M2A2 Bradley – famously associated with the 47th Mechanized Brigade – for saving their lives against threats like landmines, drone attacks, anti-tank missiles, and machine gun fire from Russian forces.
M2A2 Bradley — outdated but still highly intimidating for Russians, a present from the USA
Ukraine has been equipped with M2A2 Bradley ODS infantry fighting vehicles from the USA, units that have seen action during the Gulf War. This model represents a substantial upgrade over the original iteration introduced in the 1970s.
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The modifications led to the A2 variant no longer being amphibious because of its increased weight at 27 tonnes. Upgrades during the '90s entailed fitting advanced optoelectronic systems featuring high-resolution thermal imagers along with a laser rangefinder.
Despite the fact that the Bradley's weight varies significantly from heavier infantry fighting vehicles like the CV90 or Puma, which tip the scales at nearly 40 tonnes, it still offers outstanding protection for its crew of three and a squad of seven soldiers.
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The standard armor provides defense against attacks from heavy machine guns such as the KPW caliber 14.5×114 mm, and the frontal armor is capable of enduring hits from 30 mm shells discharged by 2A42 cannons. Moreover, the Bradley can also feature BRAT explosive reactive armor, greatly enhancing its resilience against assaults from shoulder-fired anti-tank systems and unmanned aerial vehicles.
The armament of the M2A2 Bradley forms an efficient combination for targeting most objectives.
The primary weapon system is an M242 Bushmaster autocannon with a caliber of 25mm. It fires both armor-piercing and high explosive incendiary M792 HEI-T ammunition at a rate of 200 rounds per minute, effectively engaging targets within a range of up to three kilometers. Furthermore, there’s a dual launcher designed for BGM-71F (TOW 2B) anti-tank guided missiles. These missiles have the capability to neutralize enemy tanks from distances as far as 3.7 kilometers by targeting their weaker top armor.
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Nonetheless, this is an outdated system necessitating missile guidance all the way till impact and can only be employed when stationary. Additionally, advanced Russian active defense systems such as Arena-M, which are beginning to emerge on the battlefield, might neutralize these missiles. Despite being antiquated, the M2A2 Bradley remains a significant threat and constitutes the largest number of Western infantry fighting vehicles that have reached Ukraine.
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