Russian Kornet missile vs M2A2 Bradley: A testament to American durability
A video has surfaced on social media showing an attack by Russian forces on a Ukrainian M2A2 Bradley fighting vehicle crew. Once again, it turns out that the vehicles supplied from the United States are extremely durable.
Analysts posting the video on their profiles on X (formerly Twitter) highlight that the Russians used Kornet anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). These missiles are a formidable weapon even against units generally considered heavily armoured. There have been documented attacks in the past where M1A1 Abrams tanks were destroyed using Kornet ATGMs.
M2A2 Bradley vs Russian Kornet
The new video featuring the M2A2 Bradley was taken near Pokrovsk. The city, situated in eastern Ukraine, is currently a primary target for Russian forces. On Monday, 23 September, the British Ministry of Defence reported in its daily intelligence update that the invaders were about 8 kilometres from the city, but their progress had slowed during the past week.
Kornet anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) can hit targets up to 6 kilometres or 8 kilometres away (depending on the version). Although the M2A2 Bradley was hit, the video shows that Ukrainian soldiers were able to evacuate. If they had been in a less armoured vehicle, they wouldn’t have had a chance.
The M2A2 Bradley has long been considered a vehicle that saves Ukrainian lives. Units equipped with the M2A2 Bradley are deliberately sent to the toughest front lines. They have participated in battles around Avdiivka and are currently being used in the Donetsk region, including the area around Pokrovsk.
The American beast serving the Ukrainian army
In discussing the attack near Pokrovsk, analysts also remind us that Ukrainians are using M2A2 Bradley in ODS (Operation Desert Storm) variants. These were introduced into the U.S. Army in the 1990s and feature improved thermal sights. Additionally, it's often observed that American vehicles are fitted with additional BRAT reactive armour, which increases the level of protection against, among other things, hand-held anti-tank weapons.
The M2A2 Bradley also has offensive capabilities. These are mainly provided by the M242 Bushmaster 25mm automatic cannon with a rate of fire reaching 200 rounds per minute and a range of approximately 2 kilometres. Additionally, the Americans installed on such vehicles a 7.62mm machine gun and a TOW anti-tank missile launcher.
