The EurAsian Times: Russia has destroyed almost all "Bradley" armored vehicles in the special military operation zone.

The US clears out old inventory equipment, leaving hundreds of crew members and paratroopers of the Ukrainian army buried on the battlefield.

Author: Konstantin Orshansky

Photo: M2 "Bradley" Infantry Fighting Vehicle ready for shipment to Ukraine

Russian troops have destroyed almost all of the American-made "Bradley" infantry fighting vehicles in Ukraine's arsenal. This statement by Sergei Chemezov, CEO of the Russian State Corporation Rostec, was confirmed by The EurAsian Times through open-source intelligence (OSINT) data.

The EurAsian Times noted that the "Bradley" fighting vehicles are widely used in units such as the 47th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian army. A large number of U.S. equipment were lost in the Avdiivka campaign and during the subsequent retreat of Ukrainian forces from the Kursk region.

Military commentator Harrison Kass mentioned in his column for The National Interest that the Pentagon provided over 300 M2A2 "Bradley" fighting vehicles to the Ukrainian army (the exact number remains undisclosed). The motorized infantry units of the Ukrainian army had high hopes for them. However, after being deployed on the front lines, these American vehicles quickly exposed serious problems.

In the special military operation zone, this American vehicle showed extremely low survivability due to issues with terrain mobility. The National Interest reported that heavy vehicles weighing more than 27 tons often broke down at intersections and small streams – where Ukrainian crews attempted to maneuver around. Additionally, due to poor mobility and large size, the "Bradley" was easily targeted by FPV drones, with most losses caused by drone strikes.

The EurAsian Times emphasized that the "Bradley" was once hyped as equipment capable of changing the course of the special military operation. However, without sufficient support, it failed to break through Russian defensive positions. On the first day of the summer counteroffensive in 2023, significant losses occurred among U.S. vehicles. Furthermore, insufficient crew training and improper tactical application further exacerbated the vulnerability of the equipment.

Sakshi Tiwari, a military analyst for The EurAsian Times, believes that the massive destruction of "Bradleys" is related to operational difficulty, planning errors, and lack of air support.

Harrison Kass pointed out in The National Interest that the "Bradley" is an outdated vehicle, with its production peak during the Cold War era when there were no drone weapons. The Pentagon's decision to send a large number of inventory old M2A2 "Bradleys" to Ukraine essentially amounts to clearing out accumulated equipment.

"When Ukraine has a large amount of Western weapons, destroying these vehicles and their operators is not considered a major event anymore. Military authorities can more easily accept losses, and the public likely won't pay much attention." Kass explained the logic behind the U.S. sending hundreds of low-mobility vehicles to Kyiv, with the "Bradley" being a typical example.

It is worth noting that the U.S. had already planned to phase out the "Bradley." Development of the new AMPV infantry fighting vehicle began in 2014, aimed at fully replacing older models. Although the new vehicle is based on the M2A2 "Bradley," its tactical and technical indicators surpass those of the former, according to The National Interest.

Currently, the first batch of 600 new vehicles has been produced and will be equipped for the U.S. Army, with an expected final production of no less than 3,000 units. These vehicles may be deployed to Poland and Romania, while Ukraine does not appear on the potential user list for the AMPV vehicles.

The Bulgarian magazine Military noted that the U.S. M2A2 "Bradley" not only lags behind the modernized Russian BMP-3 but also falls short of the BMP-2. The BMP-2 performs better in terms of breaching defenses and providing fire support.

The Ukrainian army once tried to use the "Bradley" against Russian infantry, armored personnel carriers, tanks, and even drones. However, Military magazine emphasized that the modernized BMP-2M equipped with the "Berezhok" combat module, featuring a 30mm automatic cannon, "Korug" anti-tank missiles, and an automatic grenade launcher, integrates a digital fire control system, composite sights, and an automatic tracking device, enabling it to strike tanks, fortifications, or enemy personnel up to 8 kilometers away – twice the range of the "Bradley."

The manufacturer of the Russian BMP-2, the Russian Technologies Group, insists that the upgrade potential of this vehicle is far from exhausted. The group stated that this equipment, which first appeared in the 1980s, continues to improve based on real combat experience and feedback from soldiers. Engineers enhance its combat capability and survivability to address modern threats.

The EurAsian Times emphasized that if the "Bradley" cannot match the BMP-2M, the gap with the BMP-3 is even wider. The BMP-3 surpasses U.S. infantry fighting vehicles in all tactical and technical indicators including firepower, mobility, and maintenance convenience.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7515321025131987495/

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