M2 Bradleys: Pivotal force in Ukraine's resilient defence
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former British Army officer, commented on the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, which, according to many opinions, have become one of the most valuable weapons in the hands of the Ukrainians. In his opinion, this outcome is a result not only of the equipment of these vehicles but also of their numbers on the front.
According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, the M2 Bradleys have become "legend" in Ukraine." These American infantry fighting vehicles assist Ukrainian soldiers on the most challenging front lines. They participated in battles near Avdiivka and are currently used, among other places, in the Donetsk region. The latest footage on social media comes from this region in eastern Ukraine.
M2 Bradley in Ukraine
The United States has provided Ukraine with over 300 M2 Bradleys, a significantly higher number than many other infantry fighting vehicles, transporters, or tanks delivered to the front by the West.
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, while not denying the high durability and significant firepower provided by the Bradleys, sees this as one of the reasons for their success. He argues that possessing sufficient weapons allows for more flexible use and employment in risky situations. Success gives the weapon a good reputation, and the potential loss of one or a few is not perceived as a considerable reputational loss.
"They've got a lot of them. And if they had a lot of Abrams and a lot of Challengers, they would use them differently," said Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, as quoted by American media.
Well-equipped infantry fighting vehicle
The M2 Bradley is equipped with a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster automatic cannon, which can fire up to 200 rounds per minute (3.3 rounds per second). This is not the only weapon onboard this infantry fighting vehicle, as it also has space for a 7.62 mm machine gun and a TOW anti-tank missile launcher.
The Ukrainians are receiving ODS (Operation Desert Storm) variants, which were introduced into service in the U.S. Army in the 1990s. These have better thermal imaging sights. In the videos from the front appearing on the Internet, some units can be seen with additional BRAT reactive armour (which increases the level of protection against grenades from RPG-7 launchers, among other things). Videos from Ukraine have proven that the M2 Bradley can win a confrontation even with a tank.
Western misconceptions about their weapons
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon believes that the M2 Bradley example reveals a common misconception in the West. The idea is that Western weapons can be fewer than Soviet/Russian ones because they are more advanced.
"We're now realizing that you sort of need a balance. When you look at the Bradleys, it's their mass and the way that they're used, which is why they're so successful," concluded the British officer.
