BAE Systems has received a USD 288 M (EUR 271.9 M) change order modification from the US Army for the production of Bradley M2A4 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and M7A4 fire support vehicles from legacy source variants, the company announced on 28 September 2023.
The award follows a previous USD 190 M contract announced on 23 August, a USD 274 M award announced on 31 August and an additional USD 128.7 M contract modification announced on 19 September for the production of M2A4s and M7A4s.
The Bradley A4 includes enhanced mobility with increased engine horsepower to provide rapid movement in reaction to combat or other adverse situations. Survivability enhancements include improvements to the fire suppression system and upgrades to the improvised explosive device jammer components that reduce the likelihood of system detectability. Additionally, an upgraded computing system and commander’s independent viewer enhance situational awareness for soldiers and the vehicle features an upgraded electronic power distribution system.
Improvements to onboard diagnostics systems, meanwhile, provide increased fault detection and isolation capabilities that help keep the Bradley Fighting Vehicle operation.
“The Bradley has proven that it is unmatched on the battlefield time and time again through its adaptability over the years,” Dan Furber, director of ground vehicle production for BAE Systems, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “The Bradley A4’s advanced technology and superior capabilities provide our soldiers with the best equipment to overmatch the adversary on the battlefield.”
Continued upgrades to the Bradley IFV from the M2A2 Operation Desert Storm – Situational Awareness (ODS-SA) variant are part of the US Army’s combat vehicle modernisation strategy to ensure force readiness of its armoured brigade combat teams. Although the army has initiated a number of efforts to replace the Bradley since the mid-1980s, none of them have so far succeeded.
The US Army thus 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.
Work on the Bradley upgrades 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.