Greece rejects faulty US armoured vehicles intended for Ukraine arms swap
Greece refuses to accept a batch of American M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles it was supposed to receive in exchange for the armament provided to Ukraine. According to military officials, the vehicles are in unsatisfactory technical condition, and they would have to spend too much money on their renovation.
Greece is actively involved in military aid to Ukraine, supporting it in its defence against aggression. The first deliveries included a batch of BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles handed over to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Additionally, Greece provided multi-purpose M113 armoured personnel carriers, increasing Ukraine's defence capabilities.
The equipment delivery was agreed upon with the United States. In exchange for the provided armament, Greece was to receive 62 M2A2 Bradley ODS-SA infantry fighting vehicles for free under the US Department of Defense Excess Defense Articles (EDA) programme. Another 102 vehicles were to be purchased at attractive prices from BAE Systems.
Greeks criticise the received equipment
As reported by the Greek service Kathimerini, in early June, the Greek military delegation visited the United States and selected 164 M2A2 Bradley ODS-SA vehicles, which the army was to accept. Eventually, all models would be upgraded to the M2A3 or A4 standard.
After inspecting the selected vehicles, the Greek military found that the offered vehicles were in unsatisfactory technical condition and refused to accept the armament. The military officials deemed they would have to spend too much on equipment refurbishment.
What does the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle offer?
The M2A2 Bradley is a 26-ton infantry fighting vehicle. Its design allows the installation of special reactive armour called BRAT. The advanced protection system effectively increases the vehicle’s resistance to attacks by handheld anti-tank weapons, particularly those equipped with shaped charges. Moreover, the BRAT armour can stop warheads commonly used in drones.
The M2A2 Bradley's front armour is exceptionally resistant. It can withstand fire from 30 mm automatic cannons. The vehicle's sides are also well secured—they are resistant to bullets fired from heavy machine guns with a calibre of .57 inch.
Thanks to these solutions, the M2A2 Bradley IFV protects its three-person crew and six-person dismount team. However, protection is not the only strength of this vehicle. Its armament allows for engaging a wide range of targets. The primary weapon is the M242 Bushmaster automatic cannon with a calibre of .98 inch. It can fire both armour-piercing and high-explosive incendiary ammunition, and its effective range is up to 1 mile.
The ODS version is also worth mentioning, as it modernises the 1980s model. This variant features advanced optronics, including a higher-resolution thermal camera and a new laser rangefinder. Thanks to these improvements, the M2A2 Bradley ODS is even more effective on the battlefield.
