The M2A2 Bradley AIFV (Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle) was introduced in the U.S. Army in 1988, it's an improved version of the standard vehicle Bradley M2A1.
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Technical Data
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Armament
The M2A2 Bradley has exactly the same armament as the previous version of the Bradley M2A1. The M2A2 Bradley is armed with an ATK Gun Systems Company M242 25 mm Bushmaster Chain Gun with a 7.62 mm M240C machine gun mounted coaxially to the right of the main armament. A total of eight smoke grenade launchers are mounted on the forward part of the turret, four to each side of the main armament. The vehicle is also armed with two anti-tank missile launchers mounted to the left side of the turret which are able to fire TOW 2 missiles. For penetration of tanks protected with explosive reactive armor (ERA), TOW 2 is equipped with a tandem warhead. The Javelin anti-tank missile replaced the earlier Dragon in the M2A2, and five TOWs or three TOWs and two Javelins could be carried.
Design and protection. -
Design and protection
The layout of the M2A2 Bradley is similar to the standard version of Bradley M2A1. The Bradley M2A2 is fitted with new additional armor. Armor plates have been added to the front and the side of the hull. Armor plates were also added to the turret for increased protection. Internally, ammunition, mines and flares have been relocated to the lower and rear portions of the hull to reduce their exposure to enemy fire. Rigid Kevlar blankets, called spall liners, have also been fitted to the inside to stop armor spalls, bullets and fragments from flying around the interior with devastating effects. The infantry firing ports in the hull sides were covered by the new applique armor, however, the two in the rear ramp were retained. The protective cover was omitted from the M240C machine gun and a semicircular shield was attached to the turret rear to add more stowage space as well as act as spaced armor. These armor and internal improvements have resulted in an increase in weight for the Bradley from 25 to 33 tons. The new armor protects the Bradley against 30 mm APDS rounds and RPGs (or similar anti-tank weapons). The infantry squad was increased again to seven men, six of which sat facing each other on two 3-man benches in the passenger compartment. The seventh man sat just behind the driver like in the M2 or M2A1 seating arrangements.
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Mobility
The Bradley M2A2 is motorized with a new powerful engine Cummins VTA-903 developing 600 hp compared with the 500 hp of the original production vehicle to handle the increased weight of the vehicle. it can run at a maximum road speed of 61 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 400 km. The Bradley M2A2 is upgraded with a new transmission and the intake air cleaner is expanded to accommodate the additional airflow requirements of the more powerful engine. A larger exhaust pipe has been installed and modifications have also been made to the existing air muffler. Stronger torsion bars were added to the suspension to handle the increased weight.
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Combat Equipment
The standard equipment of the Bradley M2A2 is the same as the version of the Bradley M2A1. The M2A2 was qualified to be transported by the C-17 Globemaster III. Wire cutters were added in front of the driver's position, and a cover was placed over the periscopes in his hatch. A maintenance stand was stowed on the hull's left side. This was used when working on the engine since the M2A2 was built without a trim vane, which had previously provided a handy place to stand.
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Bradley M2A2 Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Bradley M2A2ODS Operation Desert Storm Infantry fighting vehicle
