M2 Bradley: Ukrainian soldiers hail 'tank killer' as a game changer
Ukrainian soldiers are delighted with the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles they receive as part of U.S. support. According to them, these machines provide a very high degree of protection and are so well-equipped that they allow for the destruction of not only similar Russian vehicles but even their tanks.
According to the continuously updated list of equipment supplied to Ukraine by the Pentagon, over 300 M2 Bradleys have already been delivered to the front. How many of them remain in service with the Ukrainian army?
Bradleys targeted by the Russians
Based on data collected by the creators of the Oryx blog, which documents equipment losses in the war in Ukraine, it appears that almost one-third of them have been destroyed, damaged, or abandoned.
This seems like a lot, but the Ukrainian soldiers and analysts often emphasise that Bradleys are participating in battles on the heaviest sections of the front. They frequently face opponents more significant than themselves or appearing in larger groups, such as Russian tanks or columns of armoured personnel carriers.
A well-equipped infantry fighting vehicle
The M2 Bradley is an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) with high armour levels and sound equipment. Its main armament consists of a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster automatic cannon with a dual-feed system, which boasts a firing rate of up to 200 rounds per minute. Additionally, the designers included space for a 7.62 mm machine gun, allowing the crew to eliminate lightly armoured targets and enemy soldiers and adding a TOW anti-tank missile launcher.
The M2 Bradley weighs over 20,000 kilograms, but despite this, the IFV provides good mobility. On roads, it can achieve speeds of over 65 kilometres per hour, and the tracked system is very useful in rough terrain.
Importantly, the Ukrainians are receiving ODS (Operation Desert Storm) variants introduced into service in the 1990s. Compared to earlier versions, these include, among other things, better thermal sight systems. Moreover, the defenders fighting the Russians are mounting some units with additional BRAT reactive armour, which increases protection against, among other things, RPG-7 grenade launchers.
M2 Bradley vs Russian tanks
"It’s not a tank, but it’s a tank-killer. It will provide a significant boost to Ukraine's already-impressive armored capabilities, and we're confident that it will aid them on the battlefield," commented Pat Ryder, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defence.
Many recordings featuring the M2 Bradley have surfaced on social media in recent months. Victorious encounters with three Russian MT-LBs and even the T-90M Proryv tank, referred to as "Putin's pride," were widely commented on.
