The third batch of Bradley M2A2 Armoured IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicles supplied by the U.S. has been delivered to the Lebanese army on Saturday February 3, 2018, at the port of Beirut.

The M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles arrive at Beirut Port. (The Daily Star/Lebanese Army, HO)

The eight M2A2 Bradley Fighting vehicles were delivered on 3 February as part of a larger U.S. military assistance program to Lebanon launched last year. Under the program, the Lebanese army will receive a total of 32 M2A2’s, in addition to six MD 530G light attack helicopters, six Scan-Eagle UAV’s, as well as communications and night vision devices.

In 2017 the Lebanese army received eight Bradley’s and six A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft from the United States.

Since the war erupted between Israel and the Hezbollah in 2006, the Lebanese army has received U.S. military assistance worth more than 1.5 billion U.S. dollars.

The M2A2 Bradley AIFV (Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle) was introduced in the U.S. Army in 1988. It is an improved version of the standard vehicle Bradley M2A1. The M2A2 Bradley is armed with an ATK Gun Systems Company M242 25mm Bushmaster Chain Gun with a 7.62 mm M240C machine gun mounted coaxially to the right of the main armament. On the left side of the turret, there are also two launchers for the TOW ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile) and the TOW 2.