Ukraine's Bradley: A weapon Russians fear and respect

Ukrainians have a weapon that every soldier of the Russian Federation fears confronting, writes Newsweek, citing the words of a commander from the 47th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. We're talking about the American Bradley, a combat vehicle that has repeatedly saved Ukrainian lives and taken out vehicles theoretically stronger than itself.

The American fighting vehicle is once again a topic of conversation in Ukraine. They can't stop praising the Bradley, and Russian soldiers avoid clashes with it. Despite claiming to battle "exhausted forces of Kyiv," the aggressor's army consistently avoids engagements with Bradley fighting vehicles, Newsweek reports.

“Russians know what a Bradley is. They don't want to face this machine. I wouldn't want to be in their place either,” said the commander of the 47th Mechanized Brigade, which has American Bradley vehicles and M1 Abrams tanks in its arsenal. At the same time, Ukrainians point out that Russians are very intensively hunting for the mentioned fighting vehicles.

Defenders explain that Russian artillery systems "always try to locate the Bradley", but kamikaze drones are also a significant problem. “There are more and more of them, and the enemy is dynamically taking over terrain,” said the soldier. Drones and artillery are essentially the only effective methods for the Russian Federation to destroy the Bradley. In close-range combat, "Russian soldiers are afraid to initiate operations when they see that a Bradley will be against them."

According to Pentagon documents, the United States has handed over more than 300 Bradley vehicles and four support vehicles to Ukraine. These armored beasts have proven their effectiveness, demonstrating they are nearly indestructible. For example, during a duel with one of the best Russian tanks, the T-90M Proryv, the M2 Bradley also survived attacks from BM-21 Grad launchers and T-72 tanks and even continued operating after hitting a mine. A heroic rescue mission in which the vehicle saved allies from Russian armed forces' fire is also worth mentioning.

The Bradley's praised durability is owed to its armor, which is made from a combination of steel, aluminum, and composites. The exact composition varies depending on the version and the specific area where the Bradley is intended to be used. Offensive capabilities are guaranteed by a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster cannon accompanied by a 7.62 mm machine gun. This combination effectively eliminates even heavily armored units, including tanks.

The Bradley's armor and weaponry rightly make it considered one of the best of its kind in the world. Additionally, this American design is highly mobile, thanks to a power unit producing 500 or 600 horsepower (depending on the year of production), accelerating the vehicle to a maximum speed of 45 mph on land and up to 6 mph in water.