Captured Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles in Ukraine Fails to Impress Russian Engineers

After the reported capture of Ukrainian Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles by Russia, Russian engineers, while decoding these vehicles in Ukraine, expressed their disappointment with the features and capabilities of the US-made armored vehicles. They concluded that the captured Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles were “significantly inferior” compared to Russia’s BMP-3.

Russian Engineers were unimpressed with the captured Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles. (Photo: Popular Mechanics)

Russian Engineers Rate Captured Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles “Significantly Inferior” to BMP-3

According to the Defense Post, Russian engineers decoding captured Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) in Ukraine found them lacking in features and capabilities compared to Russia’s BMP-3, captured Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles. Roman Khromov, Russia’s deputy executive director for state defense procurement, stated that the American Bradleys were “significantly inferior” in terms of firepower, mobility, maintenance, and ease of use.

According to the Russian engineers, The BMP-3’s ability to navigate water obstacles was an advantage over the Bradleys. Furthermore, electronic components in the captured Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle were identified as a vulnerability.

In June, Russia announced capturing Western-supplied Leopard tanks and captured Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles in Ukraine, while reports indicated that at least 52 M2A2 Bradleys had been destroyed or captured during the conflict. Some military observers even described Ukraine as a challenging environment for American fighting vehicles.

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Weaknesses of the Captured Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles Exposed in Comparison to Russian Counterparts

According to the Eurasian Times  published article, the BAE Systems M2A4, captured Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, designed as an infantry transport vehicle, features a robust aluminum armor structure, a potent 25mm chain gun, and the ability to launch TOW missiles, making it a versatile combat platform.

In contrast, the Russian BMP-3 stands out with its unique design, placing the engine in the rear for improved crew visibility. Armed with a 100mm gun, a 30mm 2A72 automatic cannon, and a 7.62mm PKTM machine gun, the BMP-3 excels at troop mobility while providing robust protection.

Russian engineers have identified weaknesses in the captured Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, such as its limited agility on certain terrains and the need for specialized training to navigate water obstacles. Additionally, the Bradley’s complex electronics pose a vulnerability, as a malfunction could render the vehicle incapable of firing.

A comparative analysis from 1991 favored the BMP-3 in terms of combat characteristics, and Russia continues to invest in BMP-3s and domestic electronic systems for these vehicles, emphasizing their ongoing commitment to this platform.

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