The US Army and BAE Systems have reached a contractual modification agreement valued at over $390 million for the upgrade of additional M2A4 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.
These enhanced Bradley A4 tanks, ready to respond to future threats, will be delivered to the Army to replace older units, significantly improving lethality, survivability, and security.
The Bradley A4 is a next-generation critical capability for the Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT).
Built with proven ruggedness and coherent design to reduce logistic burden in the vehicle fleet, the platform is equipped with digital electronics for optimal situational awareness, network connectivity, and communication within the ABCT, further increasing the ability to successfully engage any adversary, regardless of terrain, temperature, or threat.
Work on this contract is already underway, and deliveries of the first enhanced M2A4 vehicles to the US Army are expected to be completed by October 2026.
The Bradley M2A4
The M2A4 standard denotes upgraded Bradleys integrated with new electro-optic and target observation and direction systems, improving the high-definition infrared sight; the engine has also been modified, increasing power from 600 to 675 HP, and the distribution has been revised to accommodate a new transmission and power management system.
The “new” Bradley mounts new composite tracks that offer improved off-road performance, reduce vibrations, and decrease the acoustic footprint of the IFV.
Furthermore, the crew and the embarked rifle team enjoy improved “habitability” conditions thanks to new suspensions and torsion bars, which effectively distribute the vehicle’s weight, even on rough terrain, at high speed, and a crucial new air conditioning system for extreme hot or cold climates where US troops may be deployed.
The software upgrade extends to the integrated FBCB2 (Force XXI Battle Command Bridge and Below) BMS class battlefield management system; the vehicle’s driver also receives new optics and perimeter and rear cameras to enhance the handling of the Bradley.
The M2A4 also accommodates a more efficient and powerful auxiliary power unit (APU), crucial for providing the energy needed to operate the APS system (where installed) and observation systems with the engine off when the Bradley is used for ISR and/or ISTAR activities for data and information collection, target detection and illumination, and to power the carried team’s systems.
The Bradley M2A4E1
The M2A4E1 variant is the most modern and protected version of the Bradley thanks to the integration of an Iron Fist Active Protection System.
The M2A4E1 version receives the Iron Fist LD (Light Deactivated) Active Protection System (APS) from Elbit Systems, while the M2A4 is simply prepared for its installation; the Iron Fist LD can detect and neutralise incoming threats without risks to the crew or the IFV itself.
The APS consists of advanced sensors, including an electronically scanned (AESA) radar, and a passive infrared detector; these sensors have been designed to rapidly identify incoming threats that are neutralized by specially designed countermeasures capable of “blinding” EO/IR sensors or disturbing the guidance beam of the incoming threat.
Source and photo credit @BAE Systems/US Army
