Initial samples of the “protective screen” will be sent for testing in about a week followed by user feedback, Metinvest COO Oleksandr Myronenk revealed in an interview with Priamyi.

“Once we receive feedback from the military, we will be able to scale up production and equip the Bradleys that are currently operating in Ukraine,” a translated transcript of the interview stated.

‘Insufficiently’ Protected 

Originally developed for Soviet-era Ukrainian tanks about a year and half ago, the screen is required for the American Abrams tanks and Bradleys IFVs, as they have been found “insufficiently” tailored to the latest challenges of modern warfare, Myronenk said.

Ukraine lost dozens of Bradleys and at least five of 31 Abrams sent by the US on the battlefield, partly to weaponized, first-person view drones.

According to Metinvest’s Myronenk, the US platforms were previously deployed in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq where drones weren’t a factor, unlike in Ukraine.

“For this reason, the Americans did not have experience protecting tanks from such drone attacks,” he explained.

“While their equipment is more modern than Soviet-era vehicles, it also has certain shortcomings and is quite vulnerable to drones. So, it also requires additional protection to ensure battlefield survivability.”

Drone Protection Kit 

Meanwhile, the US Army announced in May that it received funding to deliver the next-generation M2A4E1 Bradley variant to Ukraine, featuring the “Iron Fist Active Protection System, improved High Definition Forward Looking Infrared Gunner’s Sight, and an Environmental Control Unit to prevent heat stress for dismounts.” 

However, the Iron Fist offers protection mainly against anti-tank missiles. 

An Abrams drone protection kit is produced in about 10 days, while that for the Soviet tanks takes three days.

Made of steel produced by Metinvest, it completely envelops the turret, engine compartment, and openings, and requires about 12 hours to install on a tank.

Increases Survivability by 40 Percent 

According to the manufacturer, the screen increases the battlefield survivability of tanks against drone strikes by 30 to 40 percent.

It also protects the crew compartment, increasing the survivability of the crew upon tank damage.

The kit can withstand drone and anti-tank guided missile strikes with recoverable damage. However, it does not provide protection against direct hits by artillery or tank shells.

The post Bradleys in Ukraine to Receive Ukrainian Drone Protection Kit appeared first on The Defense Post.

Iron Fist is a “hard-kill” mounted capability providing enhanced self-defense for light utility to heavy armored vehicles against modern threats.

The weapon debuted in the early 2000s and is now serving as the Israel Defense Force’s second-generation active protection system.

The 360-degree system incorporates a radar sensor and infrared tracker to neutralize targets through a “very-near” contact approach, decreasing fragmentation effects and collateral damage in both open terrain and urban battlefields.

Assets the Iron Fist can counter include anti-tank rockets, guided missiles, aerial drones, and loitering munitions.

Work for the contract will be performed over two years.

Upgrading US IFV Fleet

According to Elbit, the recent agreement is part of General Dynamics’ ongoing project to upgrade the US Army IFVs for eight years.

This effort will integrate second-gen active protection systems for approximately nine Bradley brigades, or more than 1,200 vehicles.

“Our Iron Fist Active Protection Systems represent the highest level of innovation, offering comprehensive protection against evolving threats on the modern battlefield,” Elbit Systems Land General Manager Yehuda Vered commented on the contract signing.

“Through this strategic collaboration with [General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems], we are honored to contribute to the enhancement of the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, further empowering the US armed forces with enhanced capabilities to fulfill their missions effectively and safely.”

Elbit secured a similar contract in 2023 to supply gunner hand stations for the US Army’s Bradley IFVs.

Deliveries for the contract will commence later this year.

Modernizing Bradleys

The US invested $154 million in January 2024 to outfit the army’s Bradley fleet with second-generation forward-looking infrared cameras.

In August 2023, the Pentagon selected BAE Systems to produce more than 70 Bradleys in its A4 variant. It served as a follow-on project for a 2022 deal seeking replacements for older IFVs.

In October 2022, BAE received another contract to sustain the operability of the army’s Bradley IFV and fire support team variants.

The post Elbit to Supply Iron Fist Protection Systems to US Army Bradleys appeared first on The Defense Post.

The M2A4E1 is touted as the vehicle’s “most modern and survivable version.” It is integrated with an Iron Fist active protection system to detect and intercept incoming missiles and rockets using radar and infrared trackers and explosive projectiles.

The newest Bradley is also equipped with an improved High-Definition Forward-Looking Infrared Gunner’s Sight and an Environmental Control Unit to prevent heat stress.

A statement from the army’s Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems said that the force has already received funding to procure one M2A4E1 unit for every Bradley donated to Ukraine.

The Battle-Tested Bradley

Created to transport infantry units while offering armor protection, Bradley vehicles are fitted with laminate and explosive reactive armor that can withstand rocket-propelled grenades.

They are equipped with a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster autocannon, BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles, and a 7.62 mm M240C gas-operated machine gun.

The platform has seen plenty of use in Kyiv as the Armed Forces of Ukraine deploys its Bradleys to counter Russian troops.

Since last year, the US has donated 186 Bradleys as part of its military aid to Kyiv, estimated to cost $2 million apiece.

The post US Army Unveils New Bradley Armored Fighting Vehicle Variant appeared first on The Defense Post.

These platforms support the service’s efforts to employ realistic, modern battlefield preparations for warfighters by combining augmented, virtual, and gaming technologies.

They were installed at the Close Combat Tactical Trainer hub at Fort Cavazos for evaluation.

According to the army, the information collected from utilizing these new solutions will be the basis of future practices focusing on interoperability between aerial and ground troops stationed at different sites.

Benchmarks identified in the trials will include the systems’ limits and applications for additional virtual reality-based training use cases.

“You can do training virtually instead of physically going out in the field and having to spend the fuel, the ammo, and the logistics of moving chow and everything,” US Army Operational Test Command (OTC) Assistant Test Officer Robert Carroll stated.

“The idea is, you could send some of this equipment over and you could set some of this up instead of those units having to leave to go out and do their training.”

“They could actually fire these up and do a collective training as well as – with this being networked – they should be able to reach back to wherever and still be participating in collective training with other elements.”

Initial Test Platoon

The first group selected to validate the STE’s effectiveness includes personnel from the 1st Cavalry Division (1st CAV), which specializes in armored fleets such as the Stryker and Bradley fighting vehicles and Abrams main battle tanks.

Abrams Loader Spc. Tanner James Peake highlighted one of the benefits of using STE solutions.

“I think the [virtual reality] goggles are a major upgrade for the loader and the tank commander because you can actually see outside of the tank and see where you’re going versus having to look through a hatch all the time. Those are really the upsides.”

Gathering Insights

Experiences and feedback from the 1st CAV are being transmitted to the Army Evaluation Center at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, where they are evaluated by experts and relayed to senior leaders for decision-making.

“We’re looking to see if they’re running into an issue, how they overcome the issue, and those Soldier interactions are recorded, so we really capture what is going well with system, what’s not going so well with system, and how it can be improved for the Soldier if it gets fielded,” OTC Military Test Plans Analyst Shelby Schoolcraft explained.

“We’re doing a test that evaluates the ability for the system to be effective, suitable, and survivable for the Soldier to train on.”

The post US Army Tests Virtual Simulation Environment for Indoor Military Training appeared first on The Defense Post.

Apart from the Patriot, the evaluations covered the deliveries of Bradley, Stryker, and Abrams armored platforms.

“Without deliberate and planned sustainment support, including proper spare parts, ammunition, and maintenance support, the Ukrainians would not be capable of maintaining these weapon systems in their ongoing fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion,” the reports concluded.

Lack of Patriot Life‑cycle Maintenance Training

A total of 186 Bradleys, 189 Strykers, and 31 Abrams were sent to Ukraine last year along with an unspecified number of Patriot batteries.

According to one of the reports, the Pentagon didn’t provide advanced training to the Ukrainian Air Force (UAF) personnel operating the Patriot to address life‑cycle maintenance tasks, “a process to anticipate sustainment needs.”

“Providing Patriot air defense systems to the UAF without a strategy for sustainment increases risks to both the Department of Defense (DoD) and Ukraine,” the report said.

“Specifically, Ukraine may not be able to independently sustain the systems, and the DoD may face challenges supporting Patriot systems in Ukraine while still maintaining readiness of US Patriot air defense systems.”

Concerns over Poland-Based Maintenance Unit

Citing a Security Assistance Group – Ukraine representative, it mentions that the Remote Distribution and Maintenance Center – Ukraine, the Poland-based US maintenance unit supporting Ukraine, lacked Patriot’s depot-level (sustainment-level) repairs.

It said that the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Materiel Readiness) recommended United States European Command identify requirements, facilities, and processes to provide life‑cycle support for Patriots transferred to the UAF.

Similarly, a sustainment plan for the ground vehicles is lacking as the supply packages, personnel, and facilities to conduct field‑level maintenance run through the end of fiscal 2024.

Risks Denting Ukraine’s Ability

It puts at risk Ukraine’s ability to fight effectively and the Pentagon’s readiness to address other national security threats, the reports added.

Though the DoD was working on developing a sustainment plan, it underlined, “the lack of foresight in this matter is concerning, and should be rectified promptly.”

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An indefinite delivery pre-solicitation contract has been notified to upgrade the vehicle with the Elbit Systems Iron Fist Active Protection System (APS).

A total of nine US Army Bradley brigades, or 1,242 vehicles, could be outfitted with the second-gen APS, starting with those operating in Europe, Janes revealed, citing sources.

Testing Since 2018

The US Army faced problems when it began testing the platform with the APS in 2018, mainly related to the ignition system in the interceptor.

Since 2021, the faults have been rectified, resulting in improved performance.

“We’ve gotten to the point where we’ve demonstrated that we have fixed those issues, and we’ve gotten a significant maturity level and performance demonstration within the system,” General Dynamics official Tim Neaves told Defense News in 2021.

Iron Fist APS

The Isreali-made Iron First comprises an active electronically scanned array radar and an optional passive infrared detector, and lightweight explosive projectile interceptors.

Interceptors are launched upon detecting incoming threats, including anti-tank guided missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, and tank-fired high-explosive anti-tank ammunition.

The interceptors explode near the munition and at a distance from the vehicle to minimize damage.

Other Bradley Upgrades

Raytheon was awarded a $154-million contract last month to deliver Commander’s Independent Viewer (CIV) systems for the vehicle.

Including an infrared camera, the CIV provides a 360-degree view to the vehicle operator for targeting and oversight operations.

Last year, Elbit was awarded a contract to supply gunner hand stations for the Bradley fleet.

The post US Army Proposes Upgrading Bradleys With Iron Fist APS  appeared first on The Defense Post.

The CIV comprises a second-generation forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera with electro-optical/infrared sight and sensors providing a wide view from mobility platforms during combat.

Its 360-degree capability can be used for targeting and oversight operations across the battlefield.

Work on the CIV production will be performed in McKinney, Texas. The US Army will receive the first tranche in June 2026.

“The CIV is a package of multiple systems all working together to increase the survivability and battlefield performance of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle,” Raytheon Advanced Products President Bryan Rosselli stated.

“These capabilities – early threat detection, 360-degree battlefield view, and all-weather performance – increase a vehicle commander’s ability to locate, identify and defeat stationary and moving targets in any condition – day or night.”

3rd Gen FLIR for Abrams, OMFVs

Raytheon received an award in 2023 to provide the US Army with a similar optical capability.

Under this separate contract, the firm was tasked with delivering third-generation FLIR B-Kit systems for the agency’s Abrams main battle tank and the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFVs).

Recent US Bradley Upgrades

The US Army awarded BAE Systems a $190-million contract in August 2023 to deliver more than seven Bradley A4s, including infantry and fire support variants.

The same month, Elbit signed a contract to supply gunner hand stations for the fleet.

In January 2023, the army tested a new active protection system incorporating radar, sensors, and lightweight explosive projectile interceptors on the vehicle.

The post Raytheon to Supply Commander’s Independent Viewer for US Army Bradleys appeared first on The Defense Post.

Roman Khromov, Russia’s deputy executive director for state defense procurement and military-technical cooperation, told state-run RIA Novosti that the country carried out a “full-scale study” of the samples captured in the Northern Military District.

The examination reportedly found that the American Bradley is not an analog of Moscow’s BMP-3.

According to Khromov, the US-made vehicles are “significantly inferior” to the Russian IFVs in firepower, mobility, maintenance, and ease of use.

The Russian engineers claimed that the BMP-3 can overcome water obstacles while moving – a capability that the BAE Systems vehicles “cannot do” without prior preparation.

They also said electronic components are a weak point of the American IFVs, and a failure can cause the armored vehicles to completely lose their ability to fire.

Detailed Comparison

BAE Systems’ Bradley IFV is a lightly armored, fully tracked military vehicle that provides soldiers with added mobility, firepower, and protection from artillery and small-arms fire.

It features the latest digitized electronics for improved situational awareness, network connectivity, and communication within the US Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Team.

Russia’s BMP-3, meanwhile, is described as an amphibious vehicle that can engage armored ground and air targets while stationary, on the move, or afloat.

It is equipped with an automated fire control system and a 100-millimeter gun.

According to Russian military expert Alexey Leonkov, the weapon mounted on the Bradley is less powerful than the gun installed on the Russian vehicles.

He further stated that their anti-tank capabilities are completely different, suggesting the Russian vehicle is better than the US-made vehicles, which only have two TOW-2 anti-tank missile systems.

Trophy M2A2 Bradley IFV

Translation: “We are saying hello to Mr. Zelensky. Thank you for the wonderful vehicles. And now we’ll get an MTLB to drag this piece of shit away." pic.twitter.com/UUKPkDtOQm

— John Carter (@JohnEdgarCarter) July 12, 2023

Captured Bradleys

In June, Russia announced that it had captured several Western-supplied Leopard tanks and Bradley IFVs in Ukraine.

Dutch open-source analysis website Oryx, which monitors losses in the ongoing Ukraine war, said at least 52 M2A2 Bradleys have been destroyed or captured since the highly-scrutinized counter-offensive began.

Some military observers even described Ukraine as a graveyard for the American fighting vehicles.

The post Russian Engineers Unimpressed by Captured US-Made Bradleys appeared first on The Defense Post.

The contract includes M2A4 infantry fighting vehicles and M7A4 fire support team vehicles. 

The award modifies a previous $32-million contract awarded in November. 

The number of vehicles to be produced was not disclosed.

Upgrade on M2A2 

The latest award attempts to upgrade the platform, which has been in service with the US Army since the early 1980s.

The A4 is an upgrade on the M2A2 Operation Desert Storm – Situational Awareness variant, dozens of which have been sent to Ukraine.

“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,” BAE’s director of ground vehicle production Dan Furber said.

A4 Features 

The A4 features enhanced mobility, survivability, and firepower.

Its more powerful engine enables “rapid movement in reaction to combat or other adverse situations,” BAE explained.

Moreover, the vehicle’s upgraded fire suppression and IED jammer components reduce its detectability and targeting by adversary systems.

For increased lethality, the vehicle is equipped with “full ballistic fire control hosted on a new central processing unit, aided dual-target tracking, automatic gun target adjustment, automatic bore sighting and hunter-killer capabilities.” 

The post BAE to Produce Over 70 Additional Bradley A4 Vehicles for US Army appeared first on The Defense Post.

The firm-fixed-price delivery order supports the US Army with production to take place in Fort Worth, Texas.

Deliveries will begin in July 2024.

Gunner Hand Station

Bradley crews will use the gunner hand station to position the turret, enabling accurate targeting and firing.

It works in tandem with commander hand stations and sends signals to the turret fire control system.

“For more than 20 years, Elbit America has designed and manufactured the hand stations for Bradley variants,” Elbit America Vice President for Ground Combat and Precision Targeting Ridge Sower said.

“Our expertise [in] producing these components has led to modular designs and commonality across vehicle platforms. The end result is a superior, rugged solution that we can produce quickly and get to Soldiers on the battlefield.”

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