The M2 Bradley is a tracked U.S. infantry fighting vehicle built around a 25 mm M242 chain gun, TOW launcher, coaxial machine gun, and protected infantry lift. Its M2A2 ODS and ODS-SA lines shaped the Ukraine-supplied fleet, while the M2A3/Bradley A3 digitized branch added improved sights, networked displays, inertial navigation, and armor provisions for U.S. armored formations and coalition force-protection missions.
Ukrainian forces fielded U.S.-supplied M2A2 ODS/ODS-SA Bradleys from 2023 onward for protected movement, direct fire support, armored assaults, scouting, and anti-armor engagements; a January 2025 U.S. fact sheet listed more than 300 Bradley IFVs and four Bradley Fire Support Team vehicles for Ukraine.
Role detailsSaudi Bradley infantry fighting vehicles were fielded by coalition-side forces during the Yemen war; one M2 Bradley was reported among heavy Saudi losses during Houthi/Saleh cross-border raids in 2015.
Role detailsU.S.-led coalition forces fielded M2A3 Bradleys in northeast Syria for force protection, close support to Syrian Democratic Forces, and protected firepower against Daesh threats.
Army and BAE sources describe the Bradley as a three-crew, six-infantry vehicle with a 25 mm cannon, TOW launcher, and coaxial machine gun. Recent contract reporting and Army training coverage give public cost reference points for the vehicle and its TOW missiles.
| Topic | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard armament | 25 mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun, TOW missile launcher, and 7.62 mm M240C machine gun. | Over 100 Bradleys from 405th AFSB, TLSC-E issued to Cavalry Soldiers for Poland rotation |
| Infantry lift | Three-man crew plus six infantrymen. | Over 100 Bradleys from 405th AFSB, TLSC-E issued to Cavalry Soldiers for Poland rotation |
| Bradley A4 cost reference | June 2020 Army contract: 159 vehicles for $266,865,094, or about $1.68 million per vehicle. | Contracts For Jun. 25, 2020 |
| TOW cost context | Live TOW missiles cost about $20,000 each in Army training reporting. | Quarterhorse squadron names top gun in rare TOW competition |
ODS and ODS-SA mark post-Desert Storm Bradley modernization steps on the M2A2 line. Public sources use the shorthand unevenly: transfer trackers commonly list M2A2 ODS Bradleys, while fielding and capture reporting identify the situational-awareness rebuild as M2A2 ODS-SA.
| Topic | Documented detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| M2A2 ODS | Operation Desert Storm improvement package with navigation, laser-rangefinder, driver-vision, countermeasure, and diagnostic changes. | Bradley A2 ODS data sheet - BAE Systems |
| M2A2 ODS-SA | Operation Desert Storm - Situational Awareness rebuild with embedded training, diagnostics, programmable displays, inertial navigation, driver thermal view, and armor-related upgrades. | Pennsylvania Guard Bradley ODS-SA upgrade |
| Ukraine deliveries | Open-source transfer tracking lists 300-plus M2A2 ODS Bradleys and four M7 BFIST vehicles delivered from April 2023 onward. | Answering The Call: Heavy Weaponry Supplied To Ukraine |
| Exact-variant Ukraine reporting | TWZ identified delivered and captured Ukrainian examples as M2A2 ODS-SA Bradleys. | Bradley Fighting Vehicles Have Arrived In Ukraine; Captured Ukrainian M2 Bradley Paraded On Russian Propaganda Train |
The M2A3/Bradley A3 branch is the digitized Bradley infantry-fighting-vehicle configuration rather than a separate catalog family. The Army describes M2A3 as a heavily armored and digitized IFV for Soldier transport, overwatch fire, and defeating armored threats. BAE describes the A3 with networked electronics, programmable displays, inertial navigation, improved sights, ballistic fire control, aided dual-target tracking, and hunter-killer capability; CJTF-OIR later identified M2A3 Bradleys deployed for coalition force protection in northeast Syria.
BAE lists the Bradley A3 at 75,500 lb / 34,250 kg combat weight, 38 mph / 61 km/h road speed, and 250 mile / 402 km cruising range.
Source: Bradley A3 data sheet - BAE Systems
The A3 keeps the Bradley's 25 mm cannon, TOW missile, and coaxial machine-gun package while adding digital situational-awareness and fire-control improvements.
Sources: Project Manager Mounted Armored Vehicles; Bradley A3 data sheet - BAE Systems; Bradley Fighting Vehicle Getting New Eyes
The Bradley family moved from baseline M2 service vehicles through A2 armor improvements, post-Desert Storm ODS changes, ODS-SA situational-awareness rebuilds, and later A3/A4 modernization.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| M2A2 Bradley | Improved armor and automotive baseline | A2 vehicles form the upgrade branch that later received Operation Desert Storm and situational-awareness improvement packages. Sources: M2/M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Bradley A2 ODS data sheet - BAE Systems |
| M2A2 ODS-SA Bradley | Operation Desert Storm - Situational Awareness rebuild | National Guard reporting identifies ODS-SA vehicles with embedded training and diagnostics, programmable displays, driver thermal view, inertial navigation, and armor-related improvements. |
| M2A3 Bradley | Digitized Bradley variant | BAE's Bradley A3 data sheet identifies the A3 as a digitized infantry fighting vehicle configuration with improved sights, network connectivity, inertial navigation, armor provisions, and hunter-killer fire-control features; U.S.-led coalition reporting identified M2A3 Bradleys arriving in northeast Syria for 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve force-protection duties. Sources: Bradley A3 data sheet - BAE Systems, Additional armored vehicle capability arrives in Northeast Syria |
| M2A4 Bradley | Modernized Bradley A4 configuration | BAE identifies Bradley A4 as a modernization package retaining the 25 mm cannon, TOW missiles, and 7.62 mm machine gun while updating vehicle performance and survivability. Sources: Bradley A4 - BAE Systems |
Army reporting identifies the Bradley with a TOW missile launcher, and BAE's Bradley A4 materials describe TOW missiles as part of its anti-armor firepower.
| Ammunition | Ammunition type | Firing evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Anti-tank guided missile | Army reporting on Bradleys in Poland identifies the vehicle with a TOW missile launcher; BAE's Bradley A4 materials likewise describe TOW missiles as part of the vehicle's anti-armor firepower. Sources: TOW Family of Missiles, Over 100 Bradleys from 405th AFSB, TLSC-E issued to Cavalry Soldiers for Poland rotation, Bradley A4 - BAE Systems |
| Launched item | Item type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-tank guided missile | Army budget documentation says TOW missiles are launched from all infantry and cavalry variants of Bradley Fighting Vehicles. Sources: TOW Family of Missiles |
Army reporting says the Bradley entered service in 1981 and that 6,724 had been produced by the time of the 2010 article.
Sources: Armor School's first Bradleys reach Fort Benning
National Guard coverage described the M2A2 ODS-SA upgrade with embedded training and diagnostics, programmable displays, driver thermal view, inertial navigation, and armor-related improvements.
Sources: Pennsylvania Guard Bradley ODS-SA upgrade
The Pentagon said Bradley fighting vehicles would be delivered to Ukraine as part of a new security assistance package.
Sources: Ukraine Troops to Get Bradley Fighting Vehicles
A U.S. Transportation Command photo caption said more than 60 Bradleys were being shipped for Ukraine aid.
Sources: Getting Ready
Specialist reporting said delivered U.S. Bradley fighting vehicles in Ukraine were M2A2 ODS-SA variants.
Sources: Bradley Fighting Vehicles Have Arrived In Ukraine
TWZ reported that a captured U.S.-supplied Ukrainian M2A2-ODS-SA Bradley was being displayed on a Russian propaganda train.
Sources: Captured Ukrainian M2 Bradley Paraded On Russian Propaganda Train
