U.S. soldiers from Kansas National Guard train with new M2A3 Bradley IFV infantry fighting vehicles 10104171

Defense & Security News - United States
 
U.S. soldiers from Kansas National Guard train with new M2A3 Bradley IFV infantry fighting vehicles
U.S. Soldiers from Company C, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, Kansas National Guard, train with new M2A3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. The Bradley M2A3 IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle is an improved version of the Bradley M2A2.
     
U.S. Soldiers from Company C, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, Kansas National Guard, train with new M2A3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. The Bradley M2A3 IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle is an improved version of the Bradley M2A2.
The crew of a M2A3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle, members of Company C, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Armored Regiment, Kansas National Guard, fire the vehicle's weapons March 16 as part of qualification training at Fort Riley.
     
Soldiers of the 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt., are familiar with the Bradley Fighting Vehicles, said Master Sgt. Steven Trowbridge, battalion Master Gunner-Bradley 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt.

"The main difference between the earlier version (of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle) and this one (the M2A3) is the vehicle commander's independent viewer," Trowbridge said. He also said these features help the crew find and acquire additional targets while otherwise engaged.

The Army Acquisition Support Center website says the M2A3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle features upgrades across much of the on-board systems that "provide 'hunter-killer target handoff' capability." The M2A3 IFVs and their crews are also the "Eyes of the Artillery," the ASC website said. The on-board technology the 2-137th will be using "can acquire, identify, track and designate targets while mounted and under armor, enhancing crew survivability."

Since its initial production in 1981, the Bradley has been continually improved to meet the requirements of the changing battlefield. Bradley M2A3, the latest development program, incorporates improvements including enhancements intended to improve lethality, mobility, survivability, and sustainability.

The M2A3 Bradley has exactly the same armament as the previous version Bradley M2A2. The M2A3 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.