The first 22 of a total of 89 Bradley M2A2 ODS infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) arrived in Rijeka as part of the procurement for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia. This further strengthens the capabilities of the Croatian Army and increases Croatia’s contribution to the collective security of NATO allies, and the Croatian Army is offered even greater opportunities for training and partnership with the Armed Forces of the United States of America. Bringing the armored vehicles to operationally correct condition will take place at the company Djuro Djakovic Special Vehicles in Slavonski Brod, and the goal is to have all of them completed and brought to operational condition by 2026. The Minnesota National Guard, with which cooperation has been ongoing for 26 years, will assist the Croatian Army in introducing Bradley armored vehicles into operational use, through the State Partnership Program (SPP), thereby further deepening the defense cooperation that remains the cornerstone of bilateral relations between the US and Croatia. the arrival of Bradley in the Republic of Croatia testifies to the successful dynamics of the implementation of the most important projects of equipping and modernizing the Croatian Army, i.e. the Croatian Army, and at the same Time confirms the strength of the strategic partnership between the Republic of Croatia and the United States of America.
“Tomorrow, at the Government session, we will present the “Framework for defense cooperation between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia and the Ministry of Defense of the United States of America from 2023 to 2028″, which directs the relations of the two countries towards strengthening and deepening defense cooperation. In this sense, Bradleys will significantly contribute to strengthening the overall combat power and readiness of our Armed Forces. I am proud that part of the technique of the largest branch of the Croatian Army is becoming a tool that forms the backbone of American armored and mechanized units,” said Minister Anuši?.
“The acquisition of the Bradley is a confirmation of continuous investment in the strengthening of all components of the Croatian Army. Through strategic partnership and cooperation with the USA, we are equipping the Croatian Army to be even more ready to fulfill its tasks, taking into account contemporary defense and security challenges. The government has ensured the growth of the defense budget, which has doubled in the past seven years and today exceeds one billion euros. We continue to improve the status and material rights of Croatian soldiers and invest in the equipment and modernization of the Croatian Army”, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi? said.
The Bradley Fighting Vehicles are being transported to the Djuro Djakovi? Special Vehicles (DDSV) facility where they will be fully refurbished. The extensive refurbishment process will consist of an overhaul of the vehicles’ drive train, installation of new weapons systems and armament, painting, and inspection to ensure the vehicles all meet the highest standards of performance. Once refurbishment is complete, DDSV personnel will be trained and equipped to provide long-term maintenance of the Croatian Army’s Bradley fleet. The work at DDSV will also open up possibilities for the facility to work on other partner countries’ Bradley vehicles. DDSV was chosen as the site of refurbishment due to the company’s significant technical expertise and strong reputation. The United States is proud to support Croatia’s Bradley program and our shared commitments to the NATO Alliance. To that end, we have provided nearly $57 million in military grant assistance for this program to augment Croatia’s $145.2 million expenditure.
The M2 Bradley IFV is manufactured by BAE Systems Land & Armaments, which was formerly United Defense. The Bradley IFV was developed largely in response to the amphibious Soviet BMP family of infantry fighting vehicles, and to serve as both an Armored personnel carrier (APC), and a tank-killer. After Operation Desert Storm (First Gulf War in 1991), the M2A2 was upgraded again. 1,423 M2A2 Bradleys brought up to this standard were referred to as M2A2 ODS (Operation Desert Storm). The M2A2 ODS emerged as part of a two-phased M2A2 modernization plan designed to implement lessons learned from over ten years of mechanized infantry experience and to correct deficiencies noted during Operation Desert Storm. The addition of PGS/POSNAV enhances the M2A2 ODS’ ability to maneuver with the rest of the combined arms team. Crew survivability is also enhanced with the integration of Battlefield Combat Identification System and a Missile Countermeasure device. The M2A2 Bradley is armed with an ATK Gun Systems Company M242 25 mm Bushmaster Chain Gun with a 7.62 mm M240C machine gun mounted coaxially to the right of the main armament. The Javelin anti-tank missile replaced the earlier Dragon in the M2A2 restow, and five TOWs or three TOWs and two Javelins could be carried.
