// UNMANNED SYSTEMS AND NEXT-GEN WARFARE TERM
Bradley
The Bradley is a U.S. Army tracked armored vehicle designed to transport infantry soldiers into combat and provide direct fire support. It's like an armored taxi that also has its own powerful guns and missiles to fight alongside the troops it carries.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
The Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV), designated M2 and M3, is a tracked armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) manufactured by BAE Systems for the U.S. Army. It provides troop transport, reconnaissance, and mobile protected firepower with its 25mm M242 chain gun and TOW anti-tank missiles, operating in conjunction with main battle tanks like the M1 Abrams.
BACKGROUND
The M2 Bradley, or Bradley IFV, is an American infantry fighting vehicle that is a member of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle family. It is manufactured by BAE Systems Land & Armaments and entered service in 1981, with fielding beginning in 1983.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- BFV
- Bradley Fighting Vehicle
- M2 Bradley
- M3 Bradley
- IFV
- CFV
USAGE NOTE
The term 'Bradley' almost always refers to this specific family of fighting vehicles and is often used to differentiate it from a main battle tank, which has a different primary role.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Bradley.
The original designer and manufacturer of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. As the prime contractor, BAE Systems leads production, maintenance, and major modernization programs, such as the recent Bradley M2A4 upgrades, which enhance the vehicle's power, mobility, and survivability.
Through its Raytheon division, RTX develops and supplies critical subsystems for the Bradley, including advanced thermal imaging sights like the Commander's Independent Viewer (CIV) and the Improved Bradley Acquisition Subsystem (IBAS), which are essential for target detection, recognition, and engagement.
Manufacturer of the M242 Bushmaster 25mm chain gun, the primary armament of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The company provides the cannon and associated ammunition handling systems that give the Bradley its formidable firepower.
Supplies the high-performance diesel engines for upgraded Bradley vehicles. The engines provide increased horsepower necessary to support the additional weight of new armor and electronics, improving the vehicle's overall mobility and power generation capacity.
Develops and manufactures the HMPT-800 series hydromechanical propulsion system, the transmission used in the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. This advanced transmission is critical for the vehicle's mobility, maneuverability, and reliability in harsh battlefield conditions.
Provides integrated vetronics, power management systems, and other mission-critical electronics for the Bradley. Their technologies include driver's vision enhancers, onboard power solutions, and tactical displays that improve crew situational awareness and operational effectiveness.
A major developer of armored fighting vehicle technology and a key competitor/collaborator in the space. GDLS is one of two companies selected to develop the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle, the platform intended to eventually replace the Bradley, leveraging decades of related technology development.
Develops and integrates advanced systems for the Bradley, including command and control displays, fire control systems, and survivability solutions. The company has also demonstrated active protection systems, like Iron Fist, on the Bradley platform to defeat incoming anti-tank threats.