Bradley M2A1 IFV armored infantry fighting tracked vehicle data

: 01 September 2020

Bradley M2A1 AIFV Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle

Description

Technical Data

Specifications

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Description

The M2A1 Bradley AIFV (Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle) was introduced in the U.S. Army in 1986, it's a further development of the standard vehicle Bradley M2. The vehicle entered production in 1985 with the first delivery in 1986. By 1992, the M2A1s had begun being remanufactured to upgraded standards M2A2. The M2A1 Bradley IFV's only difference with the M2 Bradley IFV is an improved ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile) launcher, with greater accuracy and new sight system; there is also some new equipment for the crew and infantry soldiers. (All pictures Photo courtesy United States Department of Defense)

Variants

- Bradley M2: The basic production model, first fielded in 1981
- Bradley M2A2: Introduced in 1988, new engine, new armour with protection against 30 mm APDS rounds and RPGs (or similar anti-armor weapons).
- Bradley M2A3: Introduced in 2000, the A3 upgrades make the Bradley IFV totally digital and upgrade or improve existing electronics systems throughout improving target acquisition and fire control, navigation, and situational awareness. Also, the survivability of the vehicle is upgraded with a series of armor improvements, again both passive and reactive, as well as improved fire-suppression systems and NBC equipment.
- Bradley BCP: The Bradley BCP is a Command Post tracked armoured vehicle based on the chassis of the armoured infantry fighting vehicle Bradley.
- Bradley M6 Linebacker: The Bradley-Linebacker Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) system is essentially a United Defense Bradley infantry fighting vehicle with the twin Raytheon Systems Company TOW anti-tank guided missile system replaced by a pod containing four Stinger fire-and-forget Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM).
- Bradley M7 FIST: Bradley FIST (Fire Support Team) vehicle for the US Army field artillery.
- Bradley AMEV: The Bradley AMEV delivers life-saving combat medical support and protection for casualties, evacuees and combat medics, while providing mobility and survivability equal to the supported Abrams and Bradley-equipped maneuver force.
- Bradley AMTV: The Bradley AMTV provides combat medical support to the Heavy Brigade Combat Team. The AMTV provides the capability to emplace forward surgical teams closer to the point of injury, allowing advanced trauma management and intervention treatment on today’s battlefield.
- Bradley Mortar Vehicle: The Bradley Mortar Vehicle’s large interior volume enables the vehicle to carry up to 115 rounds of 120mm mortars, which facilitates the crew’s ability to provide a longer duration of sustainable fires.

Technical Data

Armament

The M2A1 Bradley has exactly the same armament as the previous version Bradley M2 except for the TOW anti-tank missile launcher. The M2A1 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. The M2A1 Bradley is armed with new improved TOW ATGM launcher which can fire all versions of the Raytheon Systems Company TOW ATGW including the TOW 2 with a maximum range of 3,750 m. The TOW 2 uses an improved guidance system and motor and enlarged the main warhead. Two missiles are ready to fire and two are stored in the turret.

Design and protection

The layout of the M2A1 Bradley is similar to the standard version of Bradley M2 with the same level of protection. Improvements have been made inside the vehicle for the comfort and safety of the crew and infantry soldiers which include a turret power indicator, padding for the driver's station, redesigned weapons interlock and top deck clearance arrangements, simplified stowage strapping, new onboard rations, two camouflage nets carried, and replacement of the single water tank by two smaller ones with the same total capacity. Mine and flare stowage has been rearranged so that more mines and fewer flares are carried.

Mobility

The engine, transmission and suspension of M2A1 Bradley are the same as for the standard version of Bradley M2. The vehicle can run at a maximum road speed of 66 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 480 km.

Accessories

Standard equipment are the same as the version of Bradley M2, but the M2A1 Bradley is fitted with a new NBC protection system M13A1, only the commander, gunner and driver are all connected to the central NBC system, while the dismounted infantrymen in the rear have their own NBC suits and masks which allow them to leave the vehicle quickly.

Specifications