Description
The Weapon System
The Bradley Fighting Vehicle System provides protected transport of an infantry squad on the battlefield and overwatching fires to support the dismounted infantry. It is employed to suppress and defeat enemy tanks, reconnaissance vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, bunkers, dismounted infantry and attack helicopters; and performs cavalry scout and other essential missions in the 21st century such as Bradley-equipped fire support and Stinger teams. The infantry version (M2) is used most often to close with the enemy by means of fire and maneuver. The primary tasks performed by the cavalry version (M3) as part of a troop and/or squadron are reconnaissance, security and flank guard missions.
Description and Specifications
The Bradley M2A3 Infantry / M3A3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle is configured as follows -
| Length: | 21 ft 2 in |
| Width: | 11.83 ft with armor tiles; 10.75 ft without armor tiles |
| Height: | 11.8 ft |
| Weight: | 50,000 lbs unloaded; 67,000 lbs combat loaded |
| Power train: | 600 hp Cummins VTA-903T diesel engine with GM-Allison HMPT-500-3SEC hydro-mechanical automatic transmission |
| Cruising range: | 250 miles |
| Road speed: | 38 mph |
| Crew: | M2A3: 9 (3 crew; 6 dismounts); M3A3: 5 (3 crew; 2 dismounts) |
| Armament: | 25-mm M242 Bushmaster cannon
TOW II missile system
7.62 mm M240C machine gun |
Vehicle features: Two second generation forward looking infrared (FLIR) sensors in the Improved Bradley Acquisition System (IBAS) and Commander's Independent Sight (CIV) provide "Hunter-Killer target handoff" capability with a ballistic fire control system; embedded diagnostics; integrated combat command and control (IC3) digital communications suite hosting Force XXI Battle Command Brigade-and-Below package with digital maps, messages and friend/foe situational awareness; position navigation system with GPS and inertial navigation system; and enhanced squad situational awareness with squad leader display integrated into vehicle digital images and Ic#.
M2A3/M3A3 Upgrade Program
The US Army A3 Bradley upgrade program includes improvements based on operational experience in the Gulf War. The upgrade includes the Improved Bradley Acquisition System (IBAS) for the TOW missile from DRS Technologies and Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV), from Raytheon which use second generation thermal imagers derived from the US Army's Horizontal Technology Initiative (HTI). The imagers are based on a 480 x 4 scanning infrared focal plane array. The IBAS also has day TV and direct view optics, automatic dual target tracking, eyesafe laser rangefinder and two-axis stabilized head mirror. The thermal imaging DRS Technologies Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE), AN\VAS-5, uses a 320 x 240 uncooled ferroelectric scanning array. A combat identification system is being installed. The electronics system includes a databus with central processors and digital information displays for commander, driver and squad leader.
FBCB2
In June 2004, DRS Technologies was awarded a contract to provide systems including rugged appliquŽ computers for the M2A3 Bradley and M1A2 Abrams tanks as part of the US Army's Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade and Below (FBCB2) program. FBCB2 is a digital battle command information system which provides enhanced interoperability and situation awareness from brigade to individual soldier that will be used in conjunction with the Army's Tactical Internet.
Fire Control and Observation
The gunner is equipped with a Raytheon Integrated Sight Unit (ISU) which includes a day/thermal sight of magnification x4 and x12. An optical relay provides the image of the gunner's sight to the commander. The gunner also has periscopes for forward and side observation. A daytime sight system for the gunner or commander is provided as backup to the primary sight.
The driver is equipped with three forward periscopes plus one periscope to the left. The central periscope can be replaced with the Northrop Grumman (formerly Litton) AN/VVS-2 Driver's Night Viewer with a 25mm second generation image intensifier. M2 Bradleys will be equipped with the DRS Technologies Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE) from 2005.
Armament
The main armament is an ATK Ammunition Systems (formerly Boeing Ordnance) 25mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun. The M242 has a single barrel with an integrated dual feed mechanism and remote feed selection. The gunner can select single or multiple shot mode. The standard rate of fire is 200 rounds/minute but the gun is optionally converted to 500 rounds/minute. An M240C 7.62mm machine gun is mounted coaxially to right of the Bushmaster.
The M2 Bradley is equipped with the Raytheon TOW BGM-71 anti-tank missile system. The twin-tube TOW launcher is mounted on the left of the turret. The target is tracked using an optical sight, which detects the infrared signal from the back of the missile in flight. A double-wire command link between the missile and the gunner is dispensed from two spools at the back of the missile. The launcher sends flight correction data to the guidance system on the missile via the command link. The range of the TOW missile is 3.75km.
Self-Protection
The Bradley is equipped with two M257 smoke grenade dischargers, each loaded with four smoke grenades. It is also fitted with an engine smoke generating system.
The hull of the M2 is constructed of welded aluminium and spaced laminate armour. In addition, the M2A2/M3A2 Bradleys have applique steel armour with provision for additional passive armour or explosive reactive armour (ERA). General Dynamics Armament and Technical products has developed an enhanced-capability reactive armour package for the Bradley. 605 sets have been ordered, to be delivered by 2005, plus a follow-on contract for 130 sets. Rafael Armament Development Authority, Ordnance Systems, of Haifa, Israel is sharing 50% of the production. The ERA consists of 96 tiles fixed to the sides, turret and front of the vehicle, which enhance protection against a variety of anti-armour munitions including shoulder-launched rocket propelled grenades (RPG).
Propulsion
The Bradley is equipped with a VTA-903T engine from Cummins Engine Co of Colombus, Indiana. The hydromechanical transmission HMPT-500 from Lockheed Martin provides three speed ranges. The engines provide a maximum speed of 66km/h.
All Bradleys are amphibious. Earlier models are equipped with a water barrier, which is fitted by the crew before entering the water. A3 models have an inflatable pontoon which fits on the front and sides of the vehicle. Water propulsion is provided by tracks and the Bradley can attain a maximum speed of 7.2km/h in water.
Production Status, Population, and Planned Life
Since 1981, 6,720 vehicles of both types have been fielded. The US Army A3 Bradley upgrade program includes improvements based on operational experience in the Gulf War. The first low-rate initial production M2A3/M3A3 Bradley was delivered in November 1998 and entered service in April 2000. The system was approved for full-rate production in May 2001. The current contract calls for 389 M2A3 and 77 M3A3 vehicles to be upgraded by 2006.
Prime Contractor: United Defense, L.P. (San Jose, CA; Fayette, PA; York, PA; Arlington, VA)
Office of Prime Responsibility: Project Management Office - Ground Combat systems, Warren Michigan 48397-5000
R-TOC Focus Areas: (Based on USD (AT&L) memorandum dated December 16, 2003.)
The R-TOC Vision: Through R-TOC principles, all defense systems will perform with increasing readiness and capability while avoiding increased operations and support resource costs and improving logistics footprint by institutionalizing the continuous implementation of innovative process and hardware improvements.
The R-TOC Goal: Maximize cost avoidance on total defense systems' FY 2010 O&S costs by offsetting 30 percent of the inflation predicted from an FY 2004 baseline.
- FY 2004 Baseline O&S Cost: To be determined.
- FY 2010 Forecasted O&S Cost: To be determined.
- FY 2010 Goal: (FY 2004 O&S Cost) * 5% = To be determined.
Major R-TOC Development Concepts that will be used to achieve the FY 2010 O&S cost reduction target. To be determined.
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