![]() In their turret is a M242 Bushmaster 25mm autocannon designed to defeat light armor, but proved quite capable of killing tanks of the Russian T-54/T-55/Chinese Type 59/69 and T-62 classes. ![]() The M2 has space for 7 infantrymen, while the M3 seats two, but carries extra missiles, ammunition, and surveillance equipment.īradley weapons are intended to support infantry soldiers or cavalry scouts on foot. Once the maneuver force reached its objective, it would then protect the movement of the overwatch force moving to meet it. The idea, however, was to have TOW units "overwatch" tank-infantry teams moving across a battlefield, letting them concentrate on close-in threats while the overwatching missiles guarded against distant threats. The TOW was originally intended to have a longer range than the Abrams gun, but the gun performance has been improving. Its heavy weapon, however, is the BGM-71 TOW, a heavy antitank missile as or more lethal than the 120mm gun on the Abrams. ![]() Troops can maneuver beside the Bradley, using it as a shield while it engages nearby targets with its 25mm, or with the 7.62mm machine gun mounted coaxially with the autocannon. The initial external communcations link is the SINCGARS radio. Inside the vehicle, it moves over the MIL-STD-1553 bus, and potentially to any communications device that interfaces to that bus. IBAS can transmit imagery outside the Bradley, to recipients from squad leader to high command. The IBAS vision system is common to the M1A2 tank and the the long-range advanced scout surveillance system (LRAS3) on the HMMWV-based M1025 scout vehicle. Any of these can be used to guide the TOW missile with the earlier FLIR, the missile range was greater than the range of its night sight. It integrates the more advanced FLIR with daylight television and direct view optics. They also have what is termed the Improved Bradley Acquisition System (IBAS), the most obvious feature of which is that there are independent, second-generation thermal viewers to the driver and commander. For communications, they have the SINCGARS radio.Ī3 models are fully digitized with an internal MIL-STD-1553 bus. These give them a moving map display on which they can see friendly forces and their troops. Ammunition storage for the main gun has been improved.Ĭommand, control, communications, intelligence, surveillanceīoth the ODS and the A3 carry the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below, as well as the tactical navigation system. Depending on the model, there are improvements in personnel and equipment facilities, ranging from imrpoved seating, to a ration heater, electric lift at the engine-access door, and external storage for personal effects. It provides the driver with a thermal imaging viewer. ODS features include an eye-safe laser rangefinder, a Tactical Navigation System comprised of a GPS unit and a digital compass, and countermeasures against first-generation, wire-guided anti-tank missiles. Some ODS versions may be upgraded to A3, while others, especially variants, may be adequate with the ODS kit. The ODS, and ODS-E for Engineer use, reflect operational experience from the Gulf War, and essentially are an interim level between the A2 and A3. ODS will be phased out, in current plans, by 2025. The Army plans coexistence of the ODS and A3 versions, building fire direction variants on the same platform as the IFVs and CFVs they accompany in combat. There are several additional variants collectively, a vehicle in the series may be called an M*An: the M2A3 is the latest IFV version, while the M3A3 is the CFV equivalent, There is also an upgrade series called M*2-ODS, which have different upgrades from the A3, although providing comparable function. The vehicle has been in service since 1981, and the earlier models now need mechanical rebuilding, as well as electronics and other combat systems. Soldiers have options to fight from the Bradley, or to dismount and fight on foot. They are the successor to the M113 (armored personnel carrier), but are different: the M113 was a "battle taxi" intending to take troops to the edge of the battlefield, while the M2/M3 go onto the battlefield. While they may look superficially like tanks, they are not light tanks. 1 Command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillanceĭesigned for close tank-infantry cooperation with M1 Abrams tanks, the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) and the closely related M3 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicle (CFV) provide the infantry side of the team.
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