Army Technology

US Army seeks hundreds more Bradley IFVs amid ongoing rearmament

The Bradley IFV is one of the longest serving armoured vehicles in the US Army’s inventory, having first entered service in 1981.

The US Army has contracted BAE Systems Land & Armaments to produce further M2A4 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) and M7A4 Bradley Fire Support Team (BFIST) platforms, as part of an ongoing series of awards for US defence requirements.

Announced in a 11 December contract notice published by the US Department of Defense (DoD), the $656.2m deal will complete by 30 November 2027, with US Army Contracting Command listed as the contracting activity.

In September 2023 the US Army awarded a $274.1m contract to produce 109 M2A4 Bradley IFVs and the conversion of six M7A4 BFISTs from existing vehicles, with deliveries expected to begin from early 2025.

Modernised M2A4 Bradley IFVs at Fort Stewart, Georgia, in 2022. Credit: US Army

While exact platform numbers for the latest deal have not been revealed, extrapolating the 2023 figures indicate the new BAE Systems’ award could be for up to 272 M2A4 and over a dozen M7A4 vehicles.

However, in 2018 a similar contract award to BAE Systems Land & Armaments to a value of $348m would see the production of up to 473 Bradley M2A4 and M7A4 vehicles, additional spares, and packages for legacy component repair using M2A3, M7A3 and Operation Desert Storm-Situational Awareness (ODS-SA) vehicles as a baseline.

Ukraine has been an ongoing recipient of the Bradley and other equipment from the US since the outbreak of large-scale fighting against Russia in 2022, with over 300 of the IFVs provided through to 1 November 2024, along with four BFIST vehicles.

Vehicle insight: the Bradley IFV

According to the US Army the M2 Bradley IFV provides cross-country mobility, mounted firepower, communications, and protection to mechanised infantry when mounted, and overwatch support when dismounted.

The Bradley has multiple variants: the M2A3 and A4 IFV, and the M2A2 Bradley ODS-SA, with the A4 replacing the ODS-SA variant. Vehicles already in stock will be used to produce new A4 platforms.

The M7A4 Bradley Fire Support Team (BFIST) Vehicle is an integrated Bradley-based fire support platform that enables company Fire Support Teams to plan, coordinate, and execute indirect artillery and mortar fires.

The latest M2A4E1 variant of the Bradley IFV adds cutting edge protection systems to the legacy platform. Credit: BAE Systems

Created through an engineering change proposal that incorporates new suspension and track upgrades, the A4 variant improves on existing Bradley mobility and power, providing an ability to host Active Protection Pystems (APS) and communications technology in the future.

The latest Bradley offering from BAE Systems comes in the form of the M2A4E1 variant, which incorporates an APS, improved gunner sight, and more efficient air conditioning for crew comfort.