The M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle - Overview + Opinions

[Music] [Music] you [Music] [Music] hello and welcome everyone its Maximus here with you today thank you for joining me today we are talking about an infantry fighting vehicle the well renowned American m2 Bradley and its variants as always guys I will go over the vehicle and overview and the kind of features it has and then finally finish off with my own personal opinion on the vehicle itself now we all know of the iconic m2 Bradley it is featured on many many movies different games and it's just one of those vehicles that you can kind of remember from the American Arsenal as being the infantry carrying pretty much still able to engage just about any target on the battlefield in fighting vehicle and I absolutely love it now you know my respect in regards to the warrior in fighting vehicle and clearly this vehicle is very close behind it in terms of my respect because you know it really does have some really good features some really really important defining features that allow this vehicle to do multiple roles which is very very interesting and very different to various roles of other implying vehicles out there so let's start off with talking a little bit about its history and its past so the rebel fighting vehicle is an American fighting vehicle platform manufactured by BAE Systems Land and armlets formerly United defense it was named after General Omar Bradley the Bradley is designed to transport infantry or Scouts with armored protection while providing covering fire to suppress the enemy troops and armed vehicles there are several bradley variants including the m2 infantry fighting vehicle and the n3 Cavalry fighting vehicle the m2 Bradley improvised vehicle fulfilled a u.s. army requirement that began in the 1960s calling for an amphibious mechanized direct combat support vehicle to operate alongside the very famous m113 armored personnel carriers this need emerged directly from the arrival of the newly approved Soviet BMP series among fibbies vehicles appearing in 1966 which combined mobility firepower and protection for complete and pure squad the result of the American initiative became the m2 Bradley and remains a critical component of the American land forces today and it's fully air transportable by lockheed c-5 galaxies from 1972 the xm7 to 3 prototype kinglee first of 2 m2 bradley pilot vehicles which appeared in 19 eight under the designation of xm2 and we're manufactured by FMC corporation upon passing all requisite development phases the line was officially adopted in 1980 as the m2 and the US military service began shortly thereafter in 1981 today the Bradley Fighting Vehicle system takes mobility and firepower a leap forward developed and built for the United States Army by FMC corporation this single weapon system constructed of aluminum and steel armor is configured for either infantry or cavalry missions the m2 infantry fighting vehicle carries a commander and gunner and the two-man turret a driver and seven squad members identical in appearance the m3 Cavalry fighting vehicle carries a commander and gunner in the two-man turret a driver and two Scouts the additional space accommodates a greater complement of ammunition working in combination with the Abrams main battle tank artillery and the attack helicopter the Bradley significantly reduces the advantages of the enemy's numerical superiority the primary weapon an awesome 25 millimeter cannon by Hughes helicopter fires both armor-piercing and high-explosive fire at rates of up to 200 rounds per minute a coaxial a mounted 7.62 millimeter machine gun provides effective anti-personnel fire for close-in engagements the all-electric turret drive-in stabilization system by General Electric allows the cannon and machine gun to fire with accuracy even when the vehicle is moving at speed over rough terrain gunner drop 1,200 meters a key push-button controls located between the gunner and Commander allow instant change of ammunition type and firing rate elevation depression swing and firing are all combined in a single control so the gunner can focus his attention on target engagement a second set of controls on the commander's side provide him with an override capability the integrated psych unit by Hughes Aircraft enables the Bradley to detect enemy targets through heat differential the system is so sensitive it can see through smoke screen is camouflaged and even sparsely wooded areas to support the main battle tank and combines round gaining offensive combat the Bradley can destroy opposing tanks this is the first armored fighting vehicle equipped with a proven long-range tow and he tank missile [Applause] [Music] Hey once which automatically raises and synchronizes the armored twin-tube launcher [Music] [Applause] the tow anti-tank missile is effective against armored it ranges in excess of 3,000 meters to keep pace with the main battle move troops rapidly enforce own survivability Bradley has outstanding mobility mobility that results from an optimum combination of engine power powertrain efficiency and suspension the commercially proven Cummins 500 horsepower turbocharged diesel engine delivers rapid acceleration and battlefield agility the hydro-mechanical transmission by General Electric combines steering for human gear selection as a single unit resulting in outstanding maneuverability and the capacity to climb slopes of up to 60% the suspension system with 14 inches of vertical wheel travel on high-performance shock absorbers carries the vehicle over rough terrain with minimum shock and stress to troops and vehicle but Bradley has maximum armor protection for minimum weight by using the FMC's faith laminate armor system this protects the squad against the majority of weapons encountered eat this you see something too full quick reloading of the externally mounted missile launcher is accomplished under armor by the loaders without leaving the vehicle [Music] [Applause] [Music] unlike the BMP that Bradley is human engineered with a soldier in mind personnel and equipment positions assure adequate space for troops to perform with maximum effectiveness even after long hours of vehicle confinement during mounted operations six vision blocks and firing ports to the sides of rear at the m2 gives squad members the capability to see targets and engage them with their 5.56 millimeter automatic weapons many combat tests can only be accomplished by dismounted infantryman odd and it is now [Music] the Bradley m2 infantry fighting vehicle brings troops to the main battle area with the option of fighting mounted or dismounted under the protection of terrain the lead squads maneuver ahead of their vehicles their objective an anti tank positioned 400 meters ahead [Music] following a terrain feature for protection the vehicles move into a position to provide fire support for the dismounted troops as they perform their traditional infantry tasks [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] with the ability to move forward at speed under attack in the combat area the Bradley m2 has transformed the infantry squad from a team of riflemen to a well-armed fighting unit capable of effective operation on a mechanized battlefield you [Music] firepower mobility and survivability make a potent weapons system [Music] [Applause] operating on the mechanized battlefield with the Abrams main battle tank artillery and the attack helicopters the Bradley Fighting Vehicle guarantees the United States Army has a combined arms team that is second to none [Music] Wow wow that was just like pure 80s nostalgia advertising right there really wasn't it so I thought I'd put that clip in there guys instead of the standard me spilling along because really I think that video for the Bradley was done very very well and I'd like to kind of bring it into rebirth back into the modern world and and it really it describes the history of the Bradley very very well so I hope you enjoyed that video guys including some of my dancing and now what we're actually gonna go over some of the more specifics so the standard m2 as mentioned before features a crew of three driver commander and gunner and concede seven originally six combat ready infantry under protection when serving in a frontline capacity a wheel and track system as with strong cross country qualities and the power to drive is three engine seated at the front right of the hull the driver is on the front left the MT variant vehicle has a welded aluminum armored hull and the front Ark has a spaced laminated aluminum steel armor plating initial production variants provide the protection against fourteen point five millimeter armor-piercing rounds front arc of the latest models provides protection against thirty millimeter armor-piercing rounds also the vehicle is fitted with the explosive reactive armor and withstands hits from RPG rounds there was bottom reinforced steel plates for improved protection against mines and IV blasts and the m2 Bradley is also fitted as standard with an NBC protection system to allow the infantry continue doing their job without being gassed the vehicle is armed with a two-man turret fitted with a 25 millimeter dual fed Bushmaster chain gun at the time of its introduction the Bradley was the first infantry fighting vehicle with a fully stabilized main gun the gun fires armor-piercing and high-explosive fragmentation rounds excellent for destroying infantry also there is a tow anti-tank guided missile launcher loaded with two missiles which can be easily reloaded from the back of the vehicle as mentioned in the video before as mentioned before earlier models had firing ports with dedicated 5.56 millimeter assault rifles attached to them these were later removed to avoid compromising the sight of the armed protection of the vehicle the original version of this image file vehicle was powered by a Cummins VTA 9:03 T turbocharged diesel engine developing roughly around 500 horsepower the m2 is surprisingly amphibious with the use of a swim barrier swimming capabilities can be improved by the erection of an inflatable buoyancy tank and on water the Bradley is propelled by the spinning of its tracks and as mentioned in the beginning of the video the IFV is air transportable in its lowest configuration without heavy armor upgrades throughout its service life the m2 Bradley IFP series has been the subject of numerous enhancements to improve combat capabilities and survivability of the vehicle and its occupants there were three main improvement programs the m2a1 the m2 a2 and the m2 a3 the m2a1 was developed in 1986 it was completed with 802 anti-tank guided missile weapon system of the new generation the vehicle was also fitted with explosive reactive armour blocks and the improved NBC protection system the m2 a2 developed in 1988 was a variant fitted with an uprated 600 horsepower engine strengthened suspension and improved armor the interior was also lined with a small liner to prevent from damage to the infantry inside if hit with specific type of munitions the m2 a3 developed in 1995 is a current variant and considered as a standard Bradley infantry fighting vehicle of the US military it is fitted with it enhanced explosive reactive Armour of the new generation highly sophisticated navigation system and other electronic improvements firing ports as mentioned were completely removed from the whole sides due to the ER a panels being compromised the front arc of the m2 a3 protection is against 30 millimeter armor-piercing rounds which was a drastic improvement over the 14.5 non-lethal rounds that could potentially take in the past the latest Bradley's also have some degree of protection against RPG rounds with specific explosive reactive armour and pharma packages being installed the m3 Bradley cavalry fighting vehicle basically an armored reconnaissance vehicle is there to scout out enemy positions there's also the m4 battlefield command and control vehicle which allows command elements to designate battle group coordination and basically monitor the battlefield the m6 linebacker is a short-range air defense vehicle carrying four Stinger surface-to-air missiles instead of the tow 80 GW or anti-tank guided weapon system interestingly from 2005 to 2006 m6 linebackers they're Stinger missile systems removed and were converted to standard m2 Bradley ODS infantry fighting vehicles the modified m2 a2 ODS Bradley's with the tow missile system to replace with a 2 tube javelin missile system and ICU or integrated sight unit modifications for increased anti-tank lethality without the need to continually track the target this was known as D warhammer Bradley there's also the m7 bradley fire support vehicle this variant was designed to replace the ford observation vehicles of the past including the m113 v v the m270 mlrs or multiple launch rocket system is also based on the Bradley chassis which to me without you quite surprising and something that I did not know there's also an ambulance version of this vehicle fitted with a modified chassis and the turret removed to allow the casualties to be placed in the rear the m3 Bradley cavalry fighting vehicle or CF V is virtually identical to the m2 Bradley except that it is equipped with a Cavalry Scout vehicle variant and instead of holding six increment in the payload compartment it's designed to seat two Scouts and hold many additional radios and ammunition and various different scouting visual equipment that is needed the a3 upgrade to the army bradley fighting vehicle system is a major component of the army's digitization initiative this was designed to both complement the capabilities provided by the m1a2 SCP model of the Abrams main battle tank and to incorporate needed enhancements identified during the Gulf War the m2 a 3 and the m3 a 3 will be equipped with digital electronic architecture incorporating onboard subsystem monitoring diagnostics and the army technical architecture complement command and control software suite that is fully interoperable with the m1a2 SCP and m1a1 d tanks this is allowing me basically the troops on the grounds communicate with one another and battle groups to be able to see a battle picture via a digitized network when equipped with upgraded Bradley's mechanized image units we'll be able to share vast field data with the m1a2 SCP equipped armored units these upgrades will improve both situational awareness and sustainability through an automated fault reporting and diagnosis project the a3 upgrade will also increase the lethality of the bradley by adding an in crude fire control system and a commander's independent thermal viewer very similar to the m1a2 s main battle tank another interesting piece of equipment has been additionally added to the Bradley is the baffle guard remote control weapon system on top of the vehicle able to mount a multitude of weapons and be operable obviously with inside the vehicle here it is giving them an unprecedented 360-degree field of view on the outside battle guards full range of electro-optical sensors and laser systems including 2nd and 3rd gen FLIR identifies potential threats out beyond the maximum effective range of weapon systems this increases standoff ranges and provides first strike capability battleguard smooth cue capability allows the warfighter to quickly identify a target with a tap on the screen automatically slewing the weapon station to that target by employing the power of the network battleguard can also use networked data from outside sensors like AI Tazz or L res to engage possible targets designed for both tracked and wheeled combat vehicles battle guards modular design allows for a variety of weapons non-lethal Zoar missiles to be mounted on either of its axle base drives but battleguard sensor platform can also be used independently able to realign with the weapons stationed in less than one second best of all battleguard works with existing TRL 9 sensor technology and weapon systems making it the most cost-effective solution for increased lethality and tactical awareness improve soldier and vehicle protection precision targeting and precision effects early threat detection and engagement at maximum standoff ranges increased tactical situational awareness collaborative sensing and engagement are just a few of the features that make battle guard the best choice in remote weapon stations so there you go remote control weapon system very safe for the crew obviously and very handy tab to engage targets now the Bradley also was given a urban survival kit otherwise known as busk and it's an upgrade similar to the m1 Abrams tusk kit it was designed to decrease the vulnerability of Bradley's in an urban threat environment the kit includes a more powerful spotlight a wire mesh protectors keep the optics from getting scratched and a non-conductive arc strip of nylon that pushes away form electrical wires powerline protections and such that could endanger crews the bus kit adds three tons the vehicles weight but because of this a major upgrade was planned and additional upgrades included a stronger 800 horsepower engine a larger main gun light armor improved sensors and cameras to give 360-degree views outside this system was supposed to enter service in 2012 but the Bradley became too heavy and the kit did not make it survivable enough the newer bus 3 kit is now available for Bradley's incorporating a blast proof fuel cell a blast resistant driver seat a turret survivability system and an emergency ramp release so now it's time for me to put my opinion on this vehicle and as I mentioned in the beginning of the video I have a hell of a lot of respect for this vehicle now as most modern militaries are doing nowadays they are trying their best to upgrade something that is already working very well or has worked very well for a long time and that is the same case with the Bradley as we see in the multiple variations and upgrade packages that the Bradley is being given it seems as though they're keeping this thing rolling and for the good of the Armed Forces of the United States it seems like it's doing its job very well and this job isn't just a standalone simple job it's multi-role multitasking weathering knocking outside so those beautiful anti-tank guided missiles or supporting infantry with that beautiful main gun or just dropping off in a tree safely I mean it's all round just a fantastic vehicle now a lot of people have asked me in the past Madness what's your feelings on hand to tank guided weapon systems being placed on the side of vehicles such as this I must admit guys I totally agree with it depending on the role that is been placed in the warrior infantry fighting vehicle being given this particular kind of weapon system in my eyes would be redundant the warrior itself is designed to transport troops get them in there and get them out quickly this vehicle however though is designed to be able to engage tanks at the same time or even roll purposely as an anti-tank killer the cavalry units as the m3 are actually able to scout units and engage targets from long distance if necessary but that's its role it's there for a scalp the warrior is not there for that it is there to drop off the infantry put a bit of firepower down and get back out of there that's its primary role so I must admit I really do like having that feature of having the anti-tank guided missiles on the side there's beautiful toe massage but really I don't think it's something that's really really necessary on infantry fighting vehicles although it's a massive bonus for the Bradley it is really nice to see the Bradley getting some really high tech upgrades and it really does need it however the vehicle is struggling with weight the more packages we put onto these things and the more upgrades that we're giving it you're defining yourself away from the original design of the vehicle itself within powerplant I'm a mechanic I'm a tank mechanic I know how these power plants work you put too much strain on them they're going to fail and there's no point having a rough armored head of the armored vehicle that can take on all these different types of munitions if it can't get out of a hot zone it needs to be able to travel a maneuver that it'd be really reliable if anything and it seems like the lots of extra lethal footing on there not allowing that to work out so well again though they are trying to upgrade it with bigger engine build 800 horsepower engine which is fantastic but this is again increasing the cost of these vehicles they are very expensive to upgrade with these new packages and I'm wondering whether the line is being cross this to you is it cheaper to procure a mere vehicle or continue rolling with this beautiful mainline vehicle that's been rolling for a very long time now I mean we're talking about since the 80s 70s time and that's quite a while for a vehicle that's same for the warrior they're doing the same thing upgrading the turret giving it a 40 millimeter and but clearly the US Armed Forces decided this is the best route to go and I support them wholeheartedly I really do hope this vehicle sees many more years in service it clearly has provided the US infantry and armed forces a very solid solid you know distinguishable service and I respect that a lot and I really do find the Mt Bradley to an absolute fantastic vehicle in terms of mobility and protection I really do feel like they're trying to upgrade something that really needs to be start from scratch again as we're starting to see with other vehicles like the Puma and the Lynx and such we're really kind of going from bare-bones and learning from mistakes we've had in the past and clearly the m2 Bradley is they're just kind of truck shopping as best they can which is fine but it's only a stopgap so I'm just interested as to what the US military is going to do in the future to replace this vehicle if in the near future they ever will replace it'll be interesting to see the guys honestly I really do have a lot of respect for those who have worked with the m2 Bradley or m3 Bradley or any other Bradley's and thank you so much for today and for watching it really really means a lot I hope you enjoyed the video and learned a little bit about the beautiful m2 Bradley series of infantry fighting vehicles if you are new to my channel please hit the subscribe button and I would really like it in so you could get that little bell to be notified of any other future military videos coming up I will give you a little teaser guide the Paladin vehicle will be coming up in the near future so please standby for that some more US artillery and apart from that thank you again for watching all the best and bye-bye [Music] [Music]

Channel: Matsimus

Views: 529,496

Rating: 4.8435926 out of 5

Keywords: M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle, M2A2 Bradley, M2A3 Bradley, Bradley IFV, M2A1, M2A2, M2A2 ODS, M2A3, M6 Bradley Linebacker, M242 25 mm autocannon, BGM-71 TOW, American infantry fighting vehicle, Armored personnel carrier, M2 infantry fighting vehicle, M3 cavalry fighting vehicle, US Army A3 Bradley, anti-tank missile, Bradley M2/M3 Tracked Armoured Fighting Vehicle

Id: cdADxVKPsgs

Length: 27min 11sec (1631 seconds)

Published: Thu Apr 06 2017