What to know about Bradley and other combat vehicles bound for Ukraine

The announcements signaled a new determination by the US and European allies to help Ukraine regain territory seized by Russia, which has condemned the move as an escalating move.

“Right now, the war in Ukraine is at a critical point,” President Biden said. “We have to do everything we can.”

According to experts, the armored fighting vehicles will help meet Ukraine’s long-term need for more advanced weapons systems. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the aid had taken defense cooperation “to a new level”.

Here’s what you need to know about combat vehicles heading to Ukraine.

What is a Bradley and are they considered tanks?

The M2 Bradley is an American-made infantry fighting vehicle – meaning it’s designed to move and support infantry. The first version was delivered to the US Army in the 1980s.

Each vehicle is designed to carry a crew of three and six soldiers as passengers, especially in open terrain. In addition to the main 25 mm gun, it can be armed with a TOW (tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided) anti-tank missile launcher.

The United States will deliver 50 Bradleys with “mounted firepower” and “high armor capacity” on January 7. Deputy Defense Secretary Laura Cooper told reporters.

The $3 billion aid package unveiled by the Pentagon last week includes 500 TOW missiles and 250,000 25mm rounds for Bradley vehicles.

The announcement sparked a debate among military analysts as to whether the Bradley is a tank. Retired Col. Mark F. Canciana, senior adviser for the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, argues that because the Bradley has light armor, tracks (rather than wheels), a medium gun and long-range capabilities, it is essentially “ light tank”.

But many military experts say it doesn’t meet the definition, in part because its gun is too small and the vehicle isn’t designed to hit other tanks. Ukraine asked the Americans for M1 Abrams tanks, which of course are tanks, but the United States refused to send them. Cooper said Friday that there are “sustainability considerations with the tanks.” “We know for a fact that the Abrams tank is not only a gas pump, but also quite difficult to maintain.

Still, the Bradleys will mark a step up for Ukraine, with more firepower than the armored vehicles previously sent by the US.

Armored fighting vehicles are generally faster and more agile than full-fledged tanks, and are easier to refuel and maintain. The Bradleys have “excellent” night vision sensors that are “better than anything the Ukrainians or Russians have,” Cancian said.

What combat vehicles do France and Germany offer?

The Pentagon said the Bradleys would complement the vehicles provided by Germany and France.

German company Rheinmetall said it could ship about 100 Marders after upgrading the Marder. The Marder, in service since 1971, has a 20 mm autocannon and can be equipped with a guided anti-tank missile system. Six or seven soldiers fit inside. The weapon system was used in the fighting in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Called a “light tank” by the French authorities, the French AMX-10RC was developed in the early 1970s. Designed for reconnaissance, it has a 105 mm gun and rides on six wheels instead of tracks. French and Ukrainian officials are still negotiating how many vehicles will be provided and when, according to the French defense ministry.

What impact could they have on the battlefield?

The combat vehicles could help Ukraine scout out Russian military positions, transport troops, and fire on Russian tanks.

“While none of these vehicles will determine the course of the war by themselves, if properly employed and well supported in the field, they will give the Ukrainians a significant tactical advantage, especially if the Ukrainians want to launch an offensive to retake territory this year,” said intelligence firm Janes ” analyst Sonny Butterworth.

The French AMX-10 was developed during the Cold War for reconnaissance. According to Butterworth, the vehicle would fire its weapon, forcing enemy soldiers to reveal their positions, and then the vehicle would “fly away” because it lacked the protection of battle tanks.

The Bradleys and Marders also offer more advanced reconnaissance capabilities than the Soviet-designed BMP1 and BMP2 combat vehicles used by Ukraine. Bradley optics can find and engage targets at greater distances and in more difficult climates, Butterworth said. According to Canciano, they could help Ukrainian soldiers spy.

Crucially, the Bradley and Marder can carry troops into battle and support them with cannons.

The United States used the Bradley in its wars in Iraq in 1991 and 2003. “The U.S. Army was able to deploy armored divisions — which have tanks and Bradleys — and unleash them through long maneuvers, behind enemy forces, breaking through enemy forces. Cancian said.

Why are the Western Allies sending combat vehicles now?

For months, Western countries have refrained from sending tanks and sophisticated infantry fighting vehicles, worried about provoking a direct confrontation with Russia.

But as the war broke out, Kyiv reclaimed more territory and Russia destroyed Ukraine’s most important infrastructure. Western allies now seem less concerned about Russia’s anger and more determined to respond to Ukraine’s impassioned cries for help in ousting Moscow’s forces.

They hope the latest weapons packages, including combat vehicles, will help the Ukrainians delay potential Russian offensives in the coming months and breach Russian defenses along the front line, which stretches hundreds of miles across eastern and southern Ukraine. With tracks designed to drive in open terrain, the Bradley is especially suited for battles in the farmlands of eastern Ukraine.

“It has a lot to do with the war we’re seeing on the ground right now and what we expect to see over the winter months,” Kirby said.

Operating the Bradley, as well as the Marders and AMX-10, requires training, so it will likely be several months before they appear on the battlefield. The United States is offering a new training program that will train about 500 Ukrainian troops at a time and include guidance on how to operate the Bradley, said Cooper, a defense official.

According to US officials, Ukrainian forces have already demonstrated that they can operate other sophisticated equipment.

“This is an opportune time for Ukraine to seize its opportunities to change the dynamics of the battlefield,” Cooper said.

It helps that the United States has plenty of spare Bradleys, Cancian said, and that the Army plans to phase them out in a few years. France is also in the process phase out AMX-10.

Still, Ukraine hopes that the promise to send combat vehicles could mean allies are also ready to send tanks, such as the German-made Leopard 2. Poland announced on Wednesday that it intends to hand over the Leopard 2 tank company to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Britain is reportedly considering sending about 10 Challenger 2 tanks.

Alex Horton, Karen DeYoung, Dan Lamothe and Loveday Morris contributed to this report.