M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle

Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide

The M2 Bradley has been developed as the companion of the M1 Abrams main battle tank in the combined arms team. Its mobility is compatible with that of the Abrams and it provides the user with missile and conventional fire capable of defeating threat tanks and fighting vehicles.

The hull of the M2 is made of all-welded aluminum armor with spaced laminate armor fitted to the hull, sides, and rear. Latest production M2A2/M3A3 Bradleys have an additional layer of applique steel armor, plus explosive-reactive armor.

The commander dismounts with the infantrymen through the rear. A large hydraulic ramp has an integral door in the left side. Over the top of the troop compartment is a rear-opening hatch cover

Torsion-bar suspension on each side supports six dual rubber-tired road wheels, with drive sprocket in front. There are two track-return rollers. Hydraulic shock absorbers are on the first, second, third, and sixth road wheels. The single-pin tracks have replaceable rubber pads.



M231 5.56mm Firing Port Weapon
The infantry rifle squad uses the M231 FPW to engage enemy personnel, crew-served weapons, and ATGM teams, and to suppress suspected close-in enemy positions. The FPW has a maximum effective range of 300 meters (tracer burnout). When not using the FPWs, the crew stores them in their assigned storage racks located inside the vehicle.

• Commander's Hand Station
  The commander's hand-station controls turret traverse, the 25 millimeter gun, coaxial machine gun, and the TOW missile system.
• Gunner's Hand Station
  Like the commander's hand station, the gunner's hand station can control turret traverse, the 25 millimeter gun, coaxial machine gun, and the TOW missile system.
• Integrated Sight Unit (ISU) with Eyesafe Laser Range Finder (ELRF)
  The ISU is the primary sight unit on Bradley Fighting Vehicles. It assists locating, acquiring, and engaging targets with the Bradley's weapon systems. The ELRF (M2A2 ODS, M2A3) is an integral part of the ISU. This range finder enables the crew to determine target ranges from 200 to 9,990 meters within plus or minus 10 meters.

M2A0

1982. Original production model. See data above.

• Basic TOW missile system.
• 500 horsepower engine and basic transmission.
• Integrated Sight Unit.
• Thermal Imaging Day/Night Sight.
• Amphibious with swim barrier.
• C-141 Transportable.

M2A0 vehicles have been converted to M2A1, then M2A2 or M2A2 ODS configuration.

M2A1

1986. See data above.

• TOW II missile system.
• Gas Particulate Filter Units (GPFU) NBC system.
• Fire suppression system.

In 1992, all M2A1 Bradleys began being remanufactured to M2A2 configuration.

M2A2

1988. See data above.

• 600 horsepower engine and automatic transmission.
• 30mm armor protection.
• Mounting capability for reactive armor tiles.
• Ammo restowage.
• Spall liners.
• C-17 Transportable.

M2A2 vehicles will be modified to M2A2 ODS configuration or remanufactured to M2A3 configuration.

M2A2 ODS, M2A2 ODSE

Lessons learned during Operation Desert Storm resulted in a series of combat feedback improvements into the Bradley M2A2 systems during overhaul. The M2A2 ODS-E model is tailored specifically for Engineer use. The ODS upgrades include the following:

• Eye-Safe Laser Range Finder. Using the ELRF, the crew can determine target ranges.
• Tactical Navigation System. The TACNAV system comprises the precision lightweight GPS receiver (PLGR) and the digital compass system (DCS).
• Missile Countermeasure Device. The MCD can deter first-generation thermal, wire-guided anti-tank missiles.
• Improved Vehicle Stowage:
  • Bench seats.
  • A tenth-man seat.
  • Mounted water ration heater.
  • Electric lift for engine-access door.
  • Outside stowage for personal gear.
  • Three 25-mm ammunition boxes. Each "hot box" contains 50 rounds of linked ammunition.
• Driver's Vision Enhancer. The DVE is an uncooled, forward-looking infrared (FLIR), real-time thermal-imaging system.
• Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below. The FBCB2 is a digital battlefield command information system.

M2A3

2000. See data above. The M2A3 has more equipment than earlier models. This equipment is also more complex than that on earlier models. Innovations on the digitized M2A3 improve the BFVs' abilities to shoot, move, and communicate:

• Target Acquisition. The commander's independent viewer (CIV) and the improved Bradley acquisition subsystem (IBAS) use second-generation FLIR technology and day-TV video.
• Turret Drive System. The TDS moves the weapon and stabilizes the weapon systems.
• Situational Awareness. Improvements to the sights and the commander's tactical display (CTD) and squad leader's display (SLD).
• Electrical Power Control. The A3 has segregated electrical power control. This means that many of its components can keep working when others fail.
• Fire Control. The fire-control system allows the crew to independently search, track, and conduct target hand-off.
• Integrated Communications, Command, and Control. The IC3 digital battle command information system provides situational awareness. It also offers real-time command and control information to A3 crews and passengers.
• Improved navigational systems. The position-navigation subsystem (POS-NAV) provides accurate positioning and navigation data.
• Diagnostics. The A3's built-in-test (BIT) continually monitors the system's turret status and shows the commander warnings and cautions about potentially dangerous faults.
• Survivability features include:
  • Roof fragmentation protection.
  • Mounting capability for reactive armor tiles.
  • Aluminum structure with steel applique, spaced laminate steel armor, or both.
  • Titanium roof armor.
  • NBC Protection. The large gas-particulate filter system has additional crew stations and heaters to provide NBC protection to the entire Bradley crew and passengers.
  • Halon fixed fire extinguisher systems in engine and personnel compartments.
  • Portable CO2 fire extinguishers.

M3A0, M3A2, M3A3, M3A2 ODS

Original production M3 Cavalry fighting vehicle (CFV) and variants.

Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle

The BSFV variant carries a Stinger Man Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) team.

M6 Linebacker

M2A2 ODS air defense variant which replaces the TOW system with Stinger missile system.

M7 Bradley Fire Support Team

M2A2 ODS field artillery fire support variant. This model adds an inertial navigation system and a new targeting station control panel. A mission-processor unit automates the fire-request system.

AMEV

Armored Medical Evacuation Vehicle derivative.