Status: 16.01.2024, 11:17 a.m.
By: Erkan Pehlivan
CommentsPrint Share
With the Bradley tank, Ukraine recently achieved successes against the Russian army. What makes the infantry fighting vehicle indispensable?
Kyiv – After the heavy losses in the summer, the American M-2 Bradley tanks are proving to be a real miracle weapon in the Ukraine war. With the infantry fighting vehicles, the Ukrainians have been successfully defending the front sections near Avdiivka and Kupyansk in the east of the battered country for weeks, despite fierce Russian attacks. No matter what they try, the invading forces of Moscow autocrat Vladimir Putin will not get through here. And there are good reasons for that.
Ukraine's Bradley also armed against anti-tank missiles
The armour of the 30-tonne colossus for a crew of up to ten men is made of a combination of steel and aluminium. Even 30-millimeter ammunition can stop the Bradley's armor. Shoulder-launched anti-tank missiles such as the RPG-7 or other older models can also be stopped by the infantry fighting vehicle.
The tank is also well equipped against mines with a nine-millimetre protection plate. The seats are also attached to the ceiling to reduce the impact of a mine hit on the occupants. In addition, the war machine built by "BAE Systems" has a splinter protection layer.
Ukrainian soldiers maneuver a Bradley tank in the frontline city of Orikhiv. © dpa/Oliver Weiken
Technology in the Bradley can detect targets at a distance of 8 km
The technology in the Bradley is also state-of-the-art. The M-2s deployed in Ukraine are equipped with a SADA-II thermal imaging system. This allows you to detect targets about eight kilometers away. In addition, the crew has access to a laser rangefinder. The infantry fighting vehicle is also equipped with GPS.
Armament of the Bradley tank destroys Russian T-90
The main weapon is a 25-millimeter M242 Bushmaster cannon. Depending on the ammunition, it can fire 200 or up to 500 rounds per minute, even while driving. In a recent skirmish near Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, the Bradley was even able to incapacitate the Russian army's T-90 tank, which is considered one of the best tanks in the country.
The infantry fighting vehicle can also be equipped with TOW-2B wire-guided anti-tank missiles. A crew member can reload the rocket launcher through a hatch at the back of the M-2's hull.
Ukraine also calls for modern fighter jets and air defense
The Bradley can be seen as a kind of "game changer" in tank combat, but the infantry fighting vehicle will apparently not be able to achieve victory in the Ukraine war alone. Kyiv has therefore requested further military aid from its Western partners, including F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems.
In addition, the actual task of the infantry tank is to bring soldiers unharmed directly into the middle of the war and then support them in action. The Bradley is also used to remove wounded soldiers from the combat zone. Forbes magazine wrote: "The U.S.-made M-2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle is not a tank. It's a combat taxi for the infantry."