US Army orders more Bradley M2A4 fighting vehicles before future XM30 enters service.

The U.S. Army awarded BAE Systems two contract modifications worth over $22 million in September 2025 to expand the production of Bradley M2A4/M7A4 Fighting Vehicles.

The U.S. Army announced two new contract modifications with BAE Systems in late September 2025 to continue production and upgrades of Bradley Fighting Vehicles. The awards, totaling $22.4 million, raise the overall contract value to $668.4 million and cover M2A4 and M7A4 conversions from legacy hulls. The US Army ensures that its armored brigades remain combat-ready with these modernized M2A4s and M7A4s, while bridging the gap to the future XM30 program.
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In terms of armament, the M2A4 retains the 25 mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun, a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun, and twin-tube TOW missile launchers, allowing engagement of enemy armor and fortified positions. (Picture source: US Army)

To date, the U.S. Army has already placed two successive contract modifications with BAE Systems Land & Armaments for the continued production and modernization of Bradley Fighting Vehicles. On 22 September 2025, BAE Systems received a $12,209,830 modification to an earlier contract, which increased the total cumulative value of the contract to $668,442,599. Two days later, on 24 September 2025, the company received a further $10,202,786 modification to the same contract, specifying the production of Bradley-based vehicles, including the M2A4 and M7A4 variants, using legacy hulls as the base for conversion. Both awards designate the Army Contracting Command at Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, as the contracting activity, with completion dates set for November 11, 2027, and November 30, 2027, respectively. Work locations and funding will continue to be determined at the order level, in line with the established contracting framework.

The M2A4 and M7A4 are the most recent variants developed through the US Army’s Engineering Change Proposal program, which sought to restore performance margins reduced by the addition of armor and electronic systems during conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. ECP1 included lighter tracks, new torsion bars, updated shock absorbers, and a revised suspension support system to recover ground clearance and mobility across rough terrain. ECP2 introduced a new powerpack with a 675-horsepower Cummins VTA903E-T675 diesel engine, HMPT-800-3ECB transmission, and power management electronics to support heavier loads and energy-intensive systems. Vehicles receiving both upgrade packages were reclassified as the A4 standard. The M2A4 was first fielded in April 2022, while the Army procurement objective for M2A4 and M7A4 vehicles stood at 1,329 units by June 2025, representing equipment for nine armored brigades plus training and support assets. At that point, 985 units had been ordered and 583 delivered.

The M2A4 possesses a combat weight of approximately 36,287 kg, a crew of three with up to seven dismounts, a top road speed of 66 km/h, a range of 402 km, a fuel capacity of 587 liters, and a ground clearance of 0.3 m. It can cross trenches up to 2.5 m, vertical obstacles of 0.9 m, slopes of 60 percent, and side slopes of 40 percent. It measures 6.5 m in length, 3.2 m in width, and 3.3 m in height. Armament consists of a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun, a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, and a dual-tube TOW missile launcher, providing both direct fire and anti-armor capability. Fire control improvements include automated dual-target tracking, automatic boresighting, hunter-killer engagement functionality, and a digitized central processing unit hosting ballistic fire control software. Survivability is supported by reactive armor compatibility, an upgraded fire suppression system, and IED jammers, with additional integration of active protection systems on later subvariants.

The latest version of the M2A4, the M2A4E1, integrates the Iron Fist Light active protection system developed by Elbit Systems and integrated by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. This APS includes two launchers and four distributed sensor arrays composed of radar and infrared detectors that cue interceptor rounds against incoming rockets and anti-tank guided missiles. It is intended to enhance survivability against modern threats, including drones and top-attack munitions. Additional improvements include a high-definition gunner’s sight and environmental control units to address heat stress in crew and troop compartments, which had been noted in Army test reports as a continuing issue. Earlier survivability kits, such as BUSK, additional reactive armor packages, and counter-IED jammers, remain compatible with the platform. The Army has stated that funding linked to the replacement of Bradleys transferred to Ukraine is supporting the procurement of M2A4E1 vehicles, though exact acquisition quantities remain unspecified.

The M7A4 Bradley Fire Support Team vehicle is built on the M2A4 chassis, integrating target acquisition and designation systems. Its Fire Support Sensor Suite is capable of locating targets out to 20 km and generating Target Location Error 90 (TLE90) grid coordinates for digital Call-for-Fire messages transmitted via Forward Observer System software hosted on Mounted Family of Computer Systems (MFoCS). It maintains the 25 mm cannon and 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun for defense. It provides full integration with JBC-P, digital communications, commander and squad leader smart displays, and Blue Force Tracker 2 with satellite connectivity. Specifications list a combat-loaded weight of 32,800 kg, 600 hp engine output, maximum speed of 61 km/h, range of 402 km, and obstacle crossing capability similar to the M2A4. Protection includes underbelly armor, energy-attenuating seating, and ventilation for nuclear, biological, and chemical defense. The M7A4 enhances artillery and air support coordination while retaining maneuver parity with mechanized units.

Testing and evaluation activities shaped the fielding of A4 vehicles. The Army’s Follow-on Test and Evaluation in October 2020 identified a design deficiency in the turret battery system, leading to an early suspension of testing and a delay in materiel release. Subsequent testing, including live-fire trials from 2018 to 2021, addressed survivability and informed fixes to the deficiency. Reports concluded that the M2/M7A4 were operationally effective and suitable compared to the M2A3, with noted improvements in mobility, target engagement, and leader situational awareness. Concerns remained about excessive heating in compartments and vulnerabilities to certain kinetic and cyber threats, prompting recommendations for continued mitigation. Soldier touch points and production verification testing confirmed corrections to identified issues and validated the platform’s performance in mechanized infantry roles. These processes ensured that production units met Army requirements for reliability, mobility, and survivability before entering brigade service.

Operational deployment of M2A4 Bradleys was demonstrated during Exercise Hedgehog 25 in Estonia between 5 and 23 May 2025. Units from the 3rd Infantry Division’s 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, deployed with M2A4s as part of NATO’s multinational training series on the eastern flank. Scenarios simulated conventional invasion requiring mechanized assaults, urban and woodland combat, and defensive operations. The vehicles were transported by C-17 Globemaster III aircraft during an Immediate Response Package event in Tartu to validate the rapid airlift of armored units to critical forward positions. Once in the theater, M2A4s conducted breaching, infantry support, and tactical area security tasks while integrated with allied forces. Their use underlined NATO’s emphasis on mobility, interoperability, and rapid reinforcement of Baltic defenses amid heightened regional security concerns following Russia’s actions in Ukraine. In these exercises, Bradleys demonstrated not only their fire support role but also their ability to fit within NATO’s modernization and deterrence framework.

These contracts and deployments underscore the Bradley’s role as a transitional platform bridging current needs and future requirements. The Army plans to continue fielding M2A4 and M7A4 vehicles until the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle enters production in the early 2030s. In the meantime, A4 conversions and new E1 subvariants ensure armored brigades remain equipped with vehicles that can meet current survivability and network requirements. The Army has already transferred around 186 Bradleys, largely older M2A2 ODS-SA vehicles, to Ukraine as part of military aid packages, highlighting the urgency of sustaining its own fleet through modernization contracts. While the Bradley design originates from the Cold War, the incremental upgrades represented by the M2A4 and M7A4 allow the platform to remain integrated within NATO structures, provide armored mobility and firepower, and serve as a practical solution until its successor is fully realized.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.