M2 Bradley: Ukraine's frontline hero in modern combat
An article about the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles in service with the Ukrainian army appeared in "The Wall Street Journal." It emphasised that this 40-year-old American army veteran, whose features and equipment we recall, has become a favourite among Ukrainians.
The M2 Bradley is a tracked infantry fighting vehicle developed by the American FMC Corporation. Production began in 1980. For the past several months, these vehicles have been sent to the front as part of the United States' support. So far, more than 300 M2 Bradleys have been sent to Ukraine.
M2 Bradley in service with the Ukrainian army
Despite its age, the M2 Bradley has proven well-suited to the combat conditions in Ukraine. It provides local soldiers with protection against drones and mines and the ability to engage in anti-tank battles with various types of Russian equipment. In some cases, the M2 Bradley not only eliminated lighter armoured vehicles but even tanks considered among the best in Putin's army.
Significantly, the Ukrainians did not receive the oldest variants of this infantry fighting vehicle, but ODS (Operation Desert Storm) modifications were introduced into the U.S. Army in the 1990s and feature a set of improvements based on the experiences of Operation Desert Storm. This includes, among other things, a laser rangefinder and an improved fire control system. The M2 Bradley offers the crew a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster automatic cannon with a rate of fire of up to 200 rounds per minute, as well as a 7.62 mm machine gun and a launcher for TOW anti-tank missiles.
M2 Bradley becomes a legend in Ukraine
Despite weighing up to 28 tons, the M2 Bradley copes well even in difficult terrain and maintains adequate mobility and manoeuvrability. It has an engine with 500 hp or 600 hp (depending on the years of production) and accelerates to a maximum speed of about 40 mph.
The Ukrainians also have versions of the M2 Bradley equipped with additional BRAT reactive armour, which increases the level of protection against, among other things, fire from handheld anti-tank weapons.
Ukrainian soldiers have repeatedly spoken positively about these American infantry fighting vehicles. They stressed that they are very durable and save their lives. At the beginning of 2024, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence stated that the M2 Bradleys "have become a legend in Ukraine". They are sent to the most challenging sections of the front. They took part in battles near Avdiivka and are currently being used, among other places, in the Donetsk region.
