M2 Bradley: The Ukrainian army's game-changer in Avdiivka showdown
A new recording from the vicinity of Avdiivka has emerged on social media. It shows a Ukrainian M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle participating in a rescue operation. Here, we review the features and capabilities of these units, known to be amongst the best available to the Ukrainian army.
The M2 Bradley is often lauded by Ukrainian soldiers, analysts, and military experts, garnering praise for its robustness. Numerous photos and videos attest to its durability, which has repeatedly saved Ukrainian soldiers' lives. Such situations are evident once again.
M2 Bradley recorded near Avdiivka
The drone footage captures the M2 Bradley team entering an area under Russian control and successfully evacuating Ukrainian soldiers from the battlefield, who would have had no hope of survival otherwise.
The M2 Bradley is one of the most heavily armored infantry fighting vehicles. It features a blend of steel, aluminum, and composite armor, offering comprehensive protection against heavy machine gun fire and, from the front, 30 mm caliber automatic cannon rounds.
Ukrainians often augment their protection with the BRAT package - Bradley Reactive Armor Tiles. This reactive armor shields against the impact of shaped charges, such as those fired by widely used RPG-7 grenade launchers.
The vehicle's offensive capabilities are equally impressive. The M2 Bradley is outfitted with a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster automatic cannon, boasting a dual-feed system. It has a rate of fire of up to 200 rounds per minute and an effective range of roughly 2 km. The crew also has a 7.62 mm machine gun and a launcher for TOW anti-tank missiles.
The M2 Bradley consistently proves superior in engagements with obsolete Soviet-era hardware. The Ukrainian military has used it to destroy not only individual Russian transporters but even entire convoys. A notable victory over a Russian T-90M Proryv tank also stands out.
More Bradley vehicles for Ukraine
By the end of 2023, around 200 M2 Bradley vehicles had been delivered to Ukraine as part of U.S. aid. On April 19, 2024, the prolonged impasse in the US Congress over new aid packages for Ukraine was finally resolved. Among the forthcoming support are additional M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. As reported by CNN, some of these are already in Germany and Poland, potentially expediting their delivery to Ukraine.
x
