The US Army has awarded BAE Systems a USD 274 M (EUR 254 M) delivery order for continued production of 115 M2A4 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and M7A4 fire support team vehicles, the US Department of Defense announced on 31 August 2023.
The award follows a previous USD 190 M contract awarded on 23 August for more than 70 M2A4s and M7A4s, bringing the total contract value to USD 464 M.
The contract upgrades the M2A2 Operation Desert Storm – Situational Awareness (ODS-SA) Bradley variant first fielded in 2011 to the newer A4 variant. The Bradley A4 features the latest digitised electronics for optimum situational awareness, network connectivity, and communication within the US Army’s armored brigade combat teams and includes enhanced mobility, survivability and situational awareness.
The US Army plans to acquire more than 700 M2A4s through to 2029 before its Bradley fleet is replaced by the winner of the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle (formerly Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle) programme, for which American Rheinmetall Vehicles and General Dynamics Land Systems are currently competing.
The first Bradley M2A4s were delivered to the US Army from February 2022, although the first unit to be officially equipped with and trained on the IFV was the 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, in April 2022.
Peter Felstead
