US Government is considering providing Ukraine with Bradley IFVs armored vehicles.

According to information published by the American newspaper "Star and Stripes" on December 29, 2022, the Government of the United States is considering the idea of providing Ukraine with Bradley tracked armored IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles).
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U.S. Army Bradley M2A3 tracked armored IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

Citing information from "Star and Stripes", the U.S. government has not yet made a decision on the possibility of delivering Bradley IFVs tracked armored vehicles to Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested the United States and European countries to supply heavy armored vehicles including main battle tanks able to counter the military power of the Russian armed forces fighting in Ukraine.

To date, France and Germany have always refused to deliver tanks to Ukraine, mainly for political reasons.

Currently, the United States army has launched the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) program with the goal to replace the Bradley IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) which are the backbone of the Infantry Mechanized units of the U.S. Army. We can therefore imagine that the possibility of delivering Bradley IFVs to Ukraine would not be a problem due to this program.

The winner of the OMFV competition could be announced in 2023. The OMFV will replace the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle, providing the U.S. Army with decisive vehicle capability now while possessing sufficient room for growth and modularity to take advantage of transformational technologies.

The Bradley is an American-made tracked armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle platform developed by FMC Corporation and manufactured by BAE Systems Land & Armaments, formerly United Defense. It entered into service with the U.S. Army in 1981. Since entering service with the US Army, it has undergone numerous modifications and modernizations to arrive at the latest version, the Bradley M2A4 which has been recently delivered to the U.S. army. Currently, the U.S. Army is equipped with more than 2,500 Bradley in M2A2 and M2A3 variants and an undisclosed number of Bradley M2A4.

U.S. Army Bradley M2A2 tracked armored IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

The Bradley is an Infantry Fighting Vehicle that has been designed to transport infantry or scouts with armor protection while providing covering fire to suppress enemy troops and armored vehicles. It has a crew of 3 including the commander, driver and gunner, and can carry 7 infantrymen. The vehicle also has incredible firepower, in fact, it is armed with one M242 25 mm Automatic Cannon, one 7.62 Coaxial Machine Gun, and a dual-tube Tube-Launched, Optically Tracked, Wireless-Guided (TOW) Anti-Tank Guided Missile Launcher.

The 25mm cannon of the Bradley IFV can be used to destroy light tactical and armored vehicles while the anti-tank guided missile is designed to engage heavily armored vehicles such as main battle tanks. The latest development of the TOW missile allows penetration of tanks protected with explosive reactive armor (ERA), such as the Russian tanks. The missile is fitted with a tandem warhead and has a maximum firing range of 4.5 km. A small disrupter charge detonates the reactive armor and allows the main-shaped charge to penetrate the main armor.

With the experience acquired in the fights in Iraq and Afghanistan, the latest variants of the Bradley are now fitted with new armor packages offering a high level of protection against the firing of small arms, guided missiles, and rocket-propelled grenades. The armor also offers protection against blasts of mines or IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices).

The M2A4 also has a commander’s independent viewer that allows the commander to scan for targets and maintain situational awareness while remaining under armor and without interfering with the gunner’s acquisition and engagement of targets. Platform modifications under the Bradley Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) program include upgraded engine and transmission, improved track (dual pin), torsion bars, road arms, and shock absorbers.

U.S. Army Bradley M2A4 tracked armored IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle. (Picture source U.S. DoD)