New production contract modernizes and equips the U.S. Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Teams with increased capability. BAE Systems was awarded a contract modification exceeding $190 million for continued production of the Bradley A4. The award includes more than 70 M2A4 Infantry Fighting Vehicles and the M7A4 Fire Support Team Vehicles. This award follows the Early Order Material awards in August and November 2022.Work on the program will take place at Red River Army Depot in Texarkana, Texas, and BAE Systems’ facilities in Aiken, South Carolina; Anniston, Alabama; Minneapolis, Minnesota; San Jose, California; Sterling Heights, Michigan; and York, Pennsylvania.
The Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) is a tracked armoured fighting vehicle platform of the United States developed by FMC Corporation and manufactured by BAE Systems Land & Armaments, formerly United Defense. The BFV is named after U.S. General Omar Bradley. The Bradley is designed to transport infantry or scouts with armor protection, while providing covering fire to suppress enemy troops and armored vehicles. The several Bradley variants include the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle and the M3 Bradley reconnaissance and infantry fighting vehicle. The M2A2 Operation Desert Storm improvements were based on lessons learned during the first Gulf War in 1991.
“The Bradley is a crucial vehicle for the Armored Brigade Combat Teams today because it allows the Army to transport troops to the fight while providing cover fire to suppress enemy vehicles and troops. It’s imperative the Bradley Fighting Vehicle is upgraded to keep our Soldiers unmatched on the battlefield for years to come,” said Dan Furber, director of ground vehicle production for BAE Systems.
Continued upgrades to the M2A4 from the M2A2 Operation Desert Storm – Situational Awareness (ODS-SA) variant is part of the Army’s combat vehicle modernization strategy to ensure force readiness of the ABCT. The Bradley A4 includes enhanced mobility with increased engine horsepower to provide rapid movement in reaction to combat or other adverse situations. Survivability improvements to the Fire Suppression and IED jammer components reducing the likelihood of system detectability. Additionally, the upgraded computing system enhances situational awareness for Soldiers. Improvements to on-board diagnostics systems provide increased fault detection and isolation capabilities that help keep the Bradley Fighting Vehicle in the fight.
