Bradley M2A2 IFV ODS
Tracked armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle - United States
Description
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 improvements include the following: enhanced vehicle survivability by restoring ammunition; internal armor protection of key components; spall liners and mounting provisions for improved vehicle smoke screening; additional armor protection including additional armor for the hull and turret; a ballistic shroud provided for the commander's back-up sight; and improved drive train and suspension. The U.S. Army also upgraded the earlier M2A1s to the M2A2 standard. After Operation Desert Storm (First Gulf War in 1991), the M2A2 was upgraded again with the addition of an eye-safe carbon dioxide laser rangefinder, global positioning system and compass, combat identification system, and thermal viewer for the driver. The 1,423 M2A2 Bradleys brought up to this standard were referred to as M2A2 ODS (Operation Desert Storm). In August 2018, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) received the fourth and final batch of eight M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) as a part of the U.S. military aid program to Lebanon. In December 2019, the U.S. Government announced a plan to donate almost 60 Bradley M2A2 Infantry Fighting Vehicles in ODS (Operation Desert Storm) configuration to Croatia, according to a statement issued by Croatian Defense Minister Damir Krsticevic, Kamenjar.com reports. In June 2020, it was released that Greece would receive Bradley M2A2 from the United States. A Foreign Military Sales announced on December 1, 2020, indicated that the State Department had made a determination to approve a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Croatia of refurbishment/modernization and support for 76 M2A2 Operation Desert Storm (ODS) Bradley Fighting vehicles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $757 million
Bradley M2 IFV variants:
- Bradley M2: The basic production model, first fielded in 1981
- Bradley M2A1: It's a further development of the standard vehicle Bradley M2 with an improved ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile) launcher, with greater accuracy and new sight system.
- 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 through 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.
Technical Data
| Armament |
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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.
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| Design and protection |
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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. 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. |
| 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. |
Specifications
| Armament | Armor |
| One 25mm M242 cannon, one 7.62mm M240C coaxial machine gun, 2 TOW launchers and 2x4 smoke grenade launchers | Spaced laminate armor. RPG and 30 mm APDS all-around protection (with armor upgrades) and shell splinters 155mm |
| Country users | Weight |
| Croatia, Lebanon, United States | 27,000 kg |
| Designer Country | Speed |
| United States | 56 km/h |
| Accessories | Range |
| NBC protection system, thermal night vision, automatic fire extinguishers | 400 km |
| Crew | Dimensions |
| 3 + 6 soldiers | Length: 6.55 m; Width: 3.28 m; Height: 2.97 m |
Details View
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Pictures - Video
Bradley M2A2 Armoured Infantry fighting vehicle
Bradley M2A2ODS Operation Desert Storm Infantry fighting vehicle
