Russian report confirms M2A2 Bradley outshines BMP‑3 in Ukraine
Extensive fragments of a Russian report have surfaced on social media. The report presents the results of a study on the M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, which was captured during the conflict in Ukraine. The report confirms that the American vehicle is significantly better than the BMP-3.
The Ukrainian portal Militarnyj highlights the opinion of blogger and tank researcher Andrij Tarasenko. In a post on his Telegram profile, he stated, "The Russian report seems to be a superficial analysis, but it unequivocally shows that the American M2A2 is significantly better than the BMP-3, confirming the shortcomings of the Soviet and Russian infantry fighting vehicle design schools."
M2A2 Bradley better than BMP-3
The report, prepared by the 38th Research Institute of Armored Vehicles of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, indicated that the M2A2 Bradley significantly surpasses the BMP-3 in crew safety due to better armor and higher mine protection.
The American vehicle was also rated better in terms of firepower, with the main gun (M242 Bushmaster, 25-mm caliber) providing twice the accuracy of the BMP-3's 30-mm caliber guns. Moreover, according to the report, the M2A2 Bradley offers greater comfort for the crew and transported infantry soldiers, and the maintenance of its main components is faster and requires less labor. The only advantages of the BMP-3 are its mobility and range (as it is significantly lighter) and its capability to cross water obstacles.
One of the best vehicles in Ukrainian service
According to Western analysts and Ukrainian soldiers, the M2A2 Bradley is one of the best vehicles to have reached the front line as part of NATO support. Numerous reports and recordings have emerged on social media showcasing successful attacks on Russian forces and evidence of the high durability of the armor of these American vehicles.
Kremlin propagandists have repeatedly claimed that the BMP-3 surpasses other armored vehicles, like the German Marders and M2A2 Bradleys. The published report may be particularly disconcerting for them, as the BMP-3 is the most modern serially produced infantry fighting vehicle in Russia. Meanwhile, the U.S. supplied Ukraine with the M2A2 Bradley ODS from the early 1990s, a variant reminiscent of Desert Storm.
In addition to the M242 Bushmaster 25-mm automatic cannon (with a firing rate of up to 200 rounds/min), the M2A2 Bradley is equipped with a 7.62-mm machine gun and a TOW anti-tank missile launcher.
