Bradley M2 AIFV

Tracked Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle - United States

The Bradley M2 was the standard Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV) of the U.S. Army since 1983. The first version of the vehicle has undergone many improvements, upgrading and modernization programs to achieve the version of M2A1, M2A3, and M2 A2. In April 1972, the US Army issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) for a new armored infantry fighting vehicle. The first prototype was called XM723 which was fully completed by the Summer of 1975. After the latest improvements on the XM723, the vehicle was called Fighting Vehicle System (FVS) which consisted of two vehicles, the XM2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle and the XM3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle. The IFV and CFV are almost identical in appearance except the CFV carry five men (the crew of three and two scouts), has the firing ports blanked off, and has greater ammunition capacity. The first two prototypes of the XM2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle were handed over to the US Army at San Jose, California in December 1978 and the remaining six were completed by March 1979. In December 1979, the XM2 was type-classified as the M2 and the XM3 as the M3. The first unit equipped with the M2 was a battalion at Fort Hood, Texas, in March 1983, with the US Army Training Centre in Vilseck, Germany, receiving deliveries in September 1983. The new variants of the Bradley M2 are manufactured by BAE Systems Land & Armaments (formerly United Defence) and include the M2 infantry fighting vehicle and the M3 cavalry fighting vehicle. Currently, 6,720 vehicles of both types are in service with the U.S. armed forces. In October 2012, BAE Systems received a $55 million contract for the second phase of the Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) effort for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle – one of the most survivable and reliable combat systems in the U.S. Army inventory. This contract continues the ECP research and development efforts to upgrade the full Bradley fleet and improve the overall vehicle performance for the U.S. Army. Last year, the company received $16 million in funding under this contract. The full value contract is expected to reach $234 million. U.S. Army plans to replace the M2 Bradley with the GCV (Ground Combat Vehicle) Infantry Fighting Vehicle by 2018.

Bradley M2 AIFV variants:

- Bradley M2: The basic production model, first fielded in 1981
- Bradley M2A1: Introduced in 1986, the A1 variant included an improved TOW II missile system, a Gas Particulate Filter Units (GPFU) NBC system, and a fire-suppression system. By 1992, the M2A1s had begun being remanufactured to upgraded standards.
- Bradley M2A2: Introduced in 1988, new engine, new armor with protection against 30 mm APDS rounds and RPGs (or similar anti-armor weapons).
- Bradley M2A3: Introduced in 2000, the A3 upgrades make the Bradley IFV totally digital and upgrade or improve existing electronics systems throughout improving target acquisition and fire control, navigation, and situational awareness. Also, the survivability of the vehicle is upgraded with a series of armor improvements, again both passive and reactive, as well as improved fire-suppression systems and NBC equipment.
- Bradley BCP: The Bradley BCP is a Command Post tracked armored vehicle based on the chassis of the armored infantry fighting vehicle Bradley.
- Bradley M6 Linebacker: The Bradley-Linebacker Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) system is essentially a United Defense Bradley infantry fighting vehicle with the twin Raytheon Systems Company TOW anti-tank guided missile system replaced by a pod containing four Stinger fire-and-forget Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM).
- Bradley M7 FIST: Bradley FIST (Fire Support Team) vehicle for the US Army field artillery.
- Bradley AMEV: The Bradley AMEV delivers life-saving combat medical support and protection for casualties, evacuees and combat medics, while providing mobility and survivability equal to the supported Abrams and Bradley-equipped maneuver force.
- Bradley AMTV: The Bradley AMTV provides combat medical support to the Heavy Brigade Combat Team. The AMTV provides the capability to emplace forward surgical teams closer to the point of injury, allowing advanced trauma management and intervention treatment on today’s battlefield.
- Bradley Mortar Vehicle: The Bradley Mortar Vehicle’s large interior volume enables the vehicle to carry up to 115 rounds of 120mm mortars, which facilitates the crew’s ability to provide a longer duration of sustainable fires