U.S. Army awards BAE Systems $390M contract for Bradley M2A4 infantry fighting vehicle upgrade.

The U.S. Army has signed a contract modification worth just under 400 million dollars with BAE Systems to convert another batch of Bradley Fighting Vehicles to the M2A4 standard, with production already underway and first deliveries planned from October 2026. The deal extends a multiyear modernization push that keeps armored brigade combat teams equipped with more lethal and survivable infantry fighting vehicles while the future XM30 family is still in development.

BAE Systems has confirmed that the U.S. Army has finalized a new Bradley A4 contract modification worth more than 390 million dollars, formalized on 26 November 2025 under reference 134/2025, to upgrade additional M2 Bradleys to the M2A4 configuration. The award follows earlier production and upgrade lots and keeps the M2A4 line hot at BAE Systems facilities in Pennsylvania, Alabama, South Carolina, Minnesota, Michigan, California, and at the Red River Army Depot in Texas, which together form the core of the Bradley industrial base. According to the company, work has already begun, with the first vehicles for this tranche expected to reach Army units from October 2026 and further deliveries running toward the latter part of the decade. The latest order reinforces the Army’s decision to keep investing in the Bradley family as its primary tracked infantry fighting vehicle while it transitions toward the next generation XM30 program.
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The improvement of the M2A4 configuration is based primarily on a substantial reinforcement of mechanical performance (Picture source: US DoD)

The order covers platforms described as “future-ready,” designed to preserve the coherence of Armored Brigade Combat Teams, which still rely heavily on the Bradley family introduced in the 1980s and regularly upgraded since. This development comes as the U.S. Army maintains a fleet estimated between 2,600 and 3,000 Bradley vehicles in service and strategic reserve, including M2 and M3 variants spread across active units, the National Guard, and depot stocks. The M2A4 is the latest stage in this life-extension program, intended to give the fleet additional service life that will extend beyond the gradual introduction of the future XM30.

The improvement of the M2A4 configuration is based primarily on a substantial reinforcement of mechanical performance. The vehicle receives a Cummins VTA903E-T675 engine rated at around 675 horsepower, clearly above the previous generation, which tended to reach its power limits as armor packages were added. Coupled with a modernized HMPT-800-3ECB transmission, this engine provides better acceleration, improved obstacle-crossing capability, and more consistent speed in rough terrain. This additional power is also intended to supply a more robust electrical architecture, required to support active protection systems, more complex thermal sights, and fully digitized onboard electronics.

The chassis benefits from a series of reinforcements intended to offset the progressive increase in combat weight. Engineers have introduced thicker torsion bars, new shock absorbers, and an optimized track designed to withstand intensive use on dry or waterlogged ground. The aim is to slow down wear in sustained operations, particularly in environments where ABCTs move at high tempo with repeated maneuver and firing sequences.

The main armament remains the 25 mm M242 Bushmaster cannon, known for reliability and versatility. It can fire armor-piercing and high-explosive ammunition with an effective range of around 2 kilometers, providing an advantage against light armored vehicles, fortified positions, and infantry targets. The Bradley A4 also retains the BGM-71 TOW anti-tank system, whose TOW-2A/B versions reach nearly 3.75 km and use a tandem warhead capable of defeating modern explosive reactive armor. This combination, used on multiple theaters, provides the vehicle with a range of effects that still match current threat profiles.

Electronic modernization forms another core element. The A4 introduces a set of digital systems gradually replacing analog equipment, improving the distribution of information to the crew and interoperability within the ABCT. Internal communications are reworked around an integrated vetronics network that facilitates data sharing, target identification, and coordination with reconnaissance or artillery support elements. This framework is also intended to accommodate the software and sensors of the A4E1 variants, designed to host active protection solutions such as Iron Fist Light Decoupled.

In operational use, the Bradley M2A4 remains a central tool of U.S. mechanized infantry. Its role is based on a balance between protection and firepower, with the ability to carry a squad and provide immediate, accurate fire support. Within ABCTs, it acts as a direct fire support platform, a mobile observation post, and a forward anti-tank launcher, creating a firing envelope that complements M1A2 tanks. The new powerpack improves the ability to keep up with tanks in fast maneuvers, while the electrical reserve makes it possible to integrate updated countermeasures against drones, anti-tank missiles, and opposing sensors.

For Washington, consolidating this upgraded fleet contributes to the resilience of the U.S. land industrial base while maintaining a sufficient volume of operational equipment in the face of increased demand linked to international tensions. The Bradley upgrade effort, at a time when several hundred vehicles have been taken from U.S. stocks to support Ukraine, reflects a policy of replenishing inventories with high-intensity scenarios in mind. It also offers European allies a clear view of U.S. intentions: maintaining a credible mechanized force while preparing the gradual arrival of more advanced systems, to sustain conventional deterrence across multiple theaters.