Greece rejects American infantry fighting vehicles over poor condition

Greece has refused a batch of American M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles that should be received in exchange for armaments provided to Ukraine. According to Greek military officials, the vehicles are in poor technical condition, and refurbishing them would be too costly.

Greece is significantly involved in military aid to Ukraine, supporting its defense against aggression. Initial deliveries included a batch of BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles handed over to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Additionally, Greece supplied M113 multipurpose armored personnel carriers, enhancing Ukraine's defense capabilities.

The equipment exchange was arranged with the United States. Greece was to receive 62 M2A2 Bradley ODS-SA infantry fighting vehicles for free under the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program of the U.S. Department of Defense. Another 102 vehicles were slated for purchase at attractive prices from BAE Systems.

According to the Greek service Kathimerini, a Greek military delegation visited the United States at the beginning of June and selected 164 M2A2 Bradley ODS-SA vehicles for the army. Ultimately, all models were expected to be upgraded to the M2A3 or A4 level.

After inspecting the selected vehicles, the Greek military stated that the offered vehicles were in unsatisfactory technical condition and refused to accept the armament. They concluded that refurbishment costs would be prohibitively high.

The M2A2 Bradley is an infantry fighting vehicle weighing 60,000 pounds. Its design allows for the installation of special reactive armor called BRAT. This advanced protection system effectively enhances the vehicle's resistance to attacks from handheld anti-tank weapons, especially those equipped with shaped charges. Furthermore, the BRAT armor can stop warheads, often used in drones.

The front armor of the M2A2 Bradley is exceptionally durable, capable of withstanding fire from 1.2-inch caliber automatic cannons. The sides of the vehicle are also robustly protected, resistant to bullets fired from 0.57-inch caliber heavy machine guns.

With such features, the M2A2 Bradley IFV provides high protection for its three-member crew and six-member dismounted infantry. However, protection is not the only strong point of this vehicle. Its armament allows it to combat a wide range of targets. The main weapon is the M242 Bushmaster automatic cannon, with a caliber of 1 inch. This cannon can fire armor-piercing and high-explosive incendiary ammunition with an effective range of up to 1.2 miles.

The ODS version is also worth mentioning, an upgrade of the 1980s model. This variant features modern optoelectronics, including a higher-resolution thermal imaging camera and a new laser range finder. Thanks to these improvements, the M2A2 Bradley ODS is even more effective on the battlefield.