Ukrainian forces advance with M2A2 Bradley in heavy Donetsk battle

Ukrainians are engaged in heavy fighting for the town of New York, located in the Donetsk region. The renowned M2A2 Bradley ODS infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) are also being deployed there. Here, we present the performance of this machine.

In recent weeks, Russians have managed to break into New York and establish a foothold. After the surprise, the Ukrainians attempt to dislodge the Russians using their latest equipment.

In the footage below, you can see an M2A2 Bradley IFV belonging to the 425th Assault Battalion, along with eight dismounted soldiers, conducting a "clearing" operation of part of the buildings from Russians under the supervision of a drone equipped with thermal imaging.

The Ukrainians have received a substantial number of modern armored vehicles and tanks, and one of the most valuable deliveries was several hundred M2A2 Bradley ODS (Operation Desert Storm) IFVs. This variant was developed in the early 1990s based on experiences from Operation Desert Storm.

The base model was the M2A2 Bradley, already in service for a decade, which was improved by adding a new laser rangefinder and upgrading the fire control system with a newer thermal sight.

The M2A2 Bradley ODS weighs 60,000 pounds, which is not particularly heavy compared to newer competitors like the CV90 or Puma, whose weight reaches around 88,000 pounds. Despite this, the M2A2 Bradley provides good protection for the three-member crew and formally for six dismounted soldiers (in Ukraine, it can usually be seen transporting even eight soldiers).

The basic armor provides all-around protection against fire from heavy machine guns of caliber .57 inches, while the front armor can withstand .79-inch rounds fired from 2A42 automatic cannons. But that's not all, as the Bradley can be fitted with BRAT reactive armor blocks, providing high resistance to anti-tank hand-held weapons fire.

It offers protection against PG-7VL grenades capable of penetrating 20 inches of armor steel commonly mounted on FPV drones. Thanks to this, the Bradley can withstand several hits, as has already happened. The M2A2 Bradley also provides good crew protection when driving over anti-tank mines.

The M2A2 Bradley is equipped with a comprehensive set of armaments, enabling the neutralization of various targets, from infantry to tanks. The main armament is the M242 Bushmaster 1-inch automatic cannon, capable of firing 200 rounds per minute at an effective range of about one mile. This cannon can use both armor-piercing and high-explosive incendiary M792 HEI-T ammunition.

The M792 HEI-T rounds, very popular among Ukrainian crews, contain 6.5-ounce projectiles, about one ounce of which is a powerful explosive material, RDX. The rest of the projectile includes a steel casing that forms fragments and an incendiary material. The projectile's effective range is several yards, and the tracer, which burns at the back of the projectile, provides the shooter with feedback on the accuracy of the fire.

The M2A2 Bradley has a double launcher for BGM-71F (TOW 2B) anti-tank-guided missiles to combat heavy targets such as tanks. These missiles can destroy tanks at a distance of up to 2.3 miles, attacking the weakest upper armor. However, this older generation system requires manual missile guidance until it hits the target and can only be used while stationary.