Latest news with #M2Bradley
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Yahoo
M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Appears In Russia With Locally Made 30mm Cannon
An intriguing photo has emerged of an M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) captured by Russia and fitted with a Russian-made 30mm cannon in place of the vehicle's original Bushmaster M242 25mm automatic cannon. Whether the installation is intended for operational use, for trials, or for some different purpose is unclear, but other unorthodox modifications to armored vehicles have appeared since the start of the war in Ukraine. The Bradley seen in the photo is one of the examples captured largely intact by Russia from the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The location and date of the photo are unknown, as is the original source, but the Bradley in question seems to be in a depot alongside other Western-supplied armor captured from the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Some wondered how can Russians use the Bradley if they don't have ammo for it. Well, that's how: "Russian repairmen installed a domestic 30mm 2A72 cannon on a captured Bradley instead of the chain-driven Bushmaster." — SIMPLICIUS Ѱ (@simpatico771) June 12, 2025 You can read all about the Bradley and what it brings to the fight in Ukraine in this past feature of ours. Most interestingly, Russian technicians have replaced the Bushmaster with what appears to be a 30mm 2A72 cannon, probably best known as the main gun of the BTR-82 wheeled armored personnel carrier. The 2A72 is a reduced-weight development of the widely used 2A42, also a 30mm weapon, which arms the BMP-2 infantry combat vehicle, BMD-2 and BMD-3 airborne combat vehicles, BTR-90 armored personnel carrier, as well as Ka-52 Hokum and Mi-28 Havoc attack helicopters. The 2A72 has a rate of fire of 330 rounds per minute, sending its ammunition to an effective range of almost a mile against an armored vehicle. This is a notably faster rate of fire than the already impressive 200 rounds per minute achieved by the Bushmaster. Against soft targets, such as infantry, the effective range of the 2A72 is increased to around 1.2 miles. Ammunition options include armor-piercing-tracer (AP-T), high-explosive fragmentation-incendiary (HEF-I), and high-explosive-tracer (HE-T) for the Bushmaster, this is a weapon that we have discussed before, in the context of the Bradley being used in Ukraine. The Bushmaster can fire two different types of ammunition, fed from boxes via chutes into the autoloader. The gunner, sitting to the left of the tank commander, can flip a switch to select between high-explosive (HE) rounds to strike lightly armored vehicles or depleted uranium (DU) armor-piercing sabot rounds to hit more heavily armored vehicles like IFVs and even tanks. The gunner can also select between single- or multiple-shot modes. 'Our DU rounds can literally hit one side of an armored personnel carrier or infantry fighting vehicle (like a BRDM or BMP) and exit the other side and will have enough kinetic force to disable another one,' one armor expert told TWZ, speaking on condition of anonymity. Well-known videos show Ukrainian Bradleys firing 25mm rounds from their Bushmaster guns at a Russian T-90M main battle tank from relatively close range: There are three things you can watch forever. Like this Ukrainian M2 Bradley IFV obliterating a «no-analogue» russian T-90M tank. : 47th Mechanized Brigade — Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) January 18, 2024 Higher quality footage of a pair of Ukrainian M2A2 Bradley IFVs from the 47th Mechanized successfully dueling a Russian T-90M in Stepove, disabling it, with a follow up FPV munition strike causing the crew to abandon the damaged vehicle. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) January 13, 2024 More than 300 examples of the M2A2 ODS version of the Bradley have been provided to Ukraine by the United States from April 2023 onwards. According to the Oryx open-source tracking group, which only records losses that it has visual confirmation of, at least 12 Ukrainian Bradleys have been captured by Russian forces, and many more have been abandoned after having been damaged or have been outright destroyed. At least some of the abandoned but still intact vehicles could have found their way into Russian hands, too, and may have been repaired. One possible reason behind the modification could relate to the Russian operational use of captured Bradleys. There is evidence that Russia has been making some limited use of captured Bradleys on the battlefield. At least one official video shows Russian troops from the Center Army Group operating a captured Bradley, after it was returned to running order, having been disabled by a mine. Once in Russian service, the vehicle was fitted with additional anti-drone protection 'cope cage' around the top of the hull. The ruSSian army is using captured Bradley IFV — 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝕯𝔢𝔞𝔡 𝕯𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔦𝔠𝔱△ (@TheDeadDistrict) November 12, 2024 In that same video, a Russian soldier explains that the Bradley is prized, above all, for its heavy armor, the size of its troop compartment, and its sophisticated fire-control system. Another soldier states that they prefer the 30mm gun on the BMP-2 to the Bushmaster, indicating that the original American gun is still fitted to the vehicle, although its use would be restricted by the limited supply of the appropriate ammunition. Clearly, at least some frontline Russian units consider it worthwhile to operate captured Bradleys, even if they may be very few in number, with no supporting logistics chain or ammunition stockpiles. Photos of members of Russia's 155th Naval Infantry training with a captured Bradley — Rob Lee (@RALee85) April 19, 2025 We might also be looking at a test installation to examine whether it's feasible to re-arm the Bradley with a Russian main gun. It could even be intended for propaganda purposes, with the Russian gun standing in for the Bushmaster so that the vehicle can be demonstrated in parades or in collections of captured Western equipment. Captured Bradleys (with original guns) have been displayed among war booty in Russia before, as you can read about here. Bearing in mind the popular nature of these kinds of exhibitions, this might even be the most likely explanation. There is also a precedent for changes being made to the original guns on captured armor, with one M1A1 Abrams main battle tank being displayed in Russia with the broken barrel reinstalled upside-down. As well as serving propaganda purposes, captured Bradleys are also providing Russia with a chance to get a closer look at Western armor. Recently, Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Russia's state-run defense conglomerate Rostec, criticized various different Western armored vehicles used by Ukraine, including the Bradley, in an interview on the company website. Although Chemezov also highlights the Bradley's good level of crew protection and internal layout, he expresses doubts about its tactical effectiveness. 'Some experts, including ours, praise the Bradley. In my opinion, that's unjustified enthusiasm. We looked at it from all sides: yes, it has some positives in terms of protection and troop compartment comfort. But that doesn't stop our weapons from destroying the vehicle along with its crew and passengers,' he said. Chemezov further criticizes the Bradley's off-road mobility and lack of amphibious capability (something that is a fundamental part of the design ethos of Russian IFVs). 'The Bradley has a serious weak spot: problems with mobility,' Chemezov continues. 'It struggles off-road and gets stuck in black soil, becoming an easy target due to its large size. And what's the use of better protection if the result is the same? Nearly all Bradleys delivered to Ukraine have been destroyed. We have to remember, an IFV is not a tank. It should be fast, mobile, and capable of crossing rivers unaided. Our IFVs can do that, the American ones cannot.' Of course, Chemezov's comments are very heavily colored by the fact that his job is to sell rival defense equipment both to the Russian state and to a diminishing number of foreign clients. There are, meanwhile, multiple documented instances of Ukrainian Bradleys surviving multiple direct hits and withstanding the effects of drone strikes or mines. The fact that Russia is even able to capture damaged vehicles and get them working again is also a testament to their durability. Bradley continues to perform his combat missions after a direct hit from a T-72 — Andrei_bt (@AndreiBtvt) July 14, 2023 On the other hand, Chemezov is correct to state that Ukrainian Bradley losses have been heavy. According to figures from Oryx, there is documented evidence showing 177 Ukrainian Bradleys destroyed, damaged and then abandoned, or captured. But as long as workable Bradleys can be salvaged by Russia, they are likely to be put to use, even if only on an ad-hoc basis. While it's unlikely that Russia will be able to assemble a fleet of Bradleys large enough to warrant a more extensive program to rearm them with domestically produced guns, the appearance of at least one of the IFVs with a Russian-made 30mm cannon fitted is certainly a noteworthy novelty. Contact the author: thomas@
The Irish Sun
27-06-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Irish Defence Forces set for cheaper drones, guns & air systems in huge new EU deal amid €1.5bn military spending bid
IRELAND is set to join a new EU scheme to buy drones, guns and air defence systems. Defence Minister Advertisement The ability to team up with other EU countries will make the procurement process quicker and cheaper for the Irish The SAFE deal only covers specific The procurement deal will also give Ireland quicker access to cyber security technology and weapons for our navy including underwater equipment. This is part of a move from the Advertisement READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS The SAFE deal was agreed by the EU last month with each individual member state given the option of signing up. The instrument also creates a Tanaiste Simon Harris believes that the SAFE instrument could help speed up the A Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces has recommended that Ireland increase spending on the military to €1.5 bn a year by 2028 and add 2,000 staff and soldiers to our army, navy and air corps. Advertisement Most read in the Irish Sun Minister Harris said: 'Availing of the possibilities available under the SAFE Regulation will allow Ireland to realise this ambition more quickly and more efficiently. 'I am determined to provide for the development of a full spectrum of Defence Force Capabilities that will bring Ireland in line with other similar-sized 'I have agreed, therefore, that the Department of Defence should leverage the common procurement opportunities offered under the SAFE Regulation as much as possible to progress delivery of Ireland's defence capabilities needs as quickly as possible.' TRUMP PUTS ON PRESSURE It comes as US President Advertisement President Trump has previously accused the EU of freeloading on the military capabilities of the Earlier this week, Ireland is one of the lowest spenders on defence in Europe with current spending equating to around 0.25 per cent of GDP. 1 The M2 Bradley is an American infantry fighting vehicle Credit: Getty Images - Getty Advertisement
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
At least 30 ‘No Kings' rallies planned Saturday in Missouri, thousands nationwide
U.S. Army soldiers work on an assortment of M1 Alpha a3 Abrams tanks, stryker armored vehicles, and M2 Bradley fighting vehicles at West Potomac Park along the Potomac River on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. Tanks and other heavy military equipment have arrived in the nation's capital for a military parade in honor of the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary, which coincides with President Donald Trump's birthday and Flag Day (). A 'No Kings' demonstration is scheduled Saturday in downtown Columbia, one of nearly 30 planned in Missouri and almost 2,000 across the country against Trump administration policies. The 'No Kings Day of Defiance' was organized nationwide at the same time a military parade will mark the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary in Washington, D.C. The date also coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. In response to the planned rallies in Missouri, Gov. Mike Kehoe announced Thursday that he had activated the Missouri National Guard in preparation for the protests. The Guard will be mobilized only if 'assistance is needed to support local law enforcement,' according to a news release from the governor's office. The rallies across the country are intended to 'honor civil liberties for all' and protest deportation, U.S. actions in Gaza and recent funding cuts to government departments such as USAID, said Jeff Stack, coordinator of the Mid-Missouri Fellowship of Reconciliation and an organizer of the demonstration in Columbia. A number of rallies are planned in Kansas City and St. Louis, with additional demonstrations scheduled in Boonville, Fayette, Marshall, Jefferson City, Warrensburg, Cape Girardeau, Springfield, Joplin, Rolla, St. Joseph, Poplar Bluff, West Plains, Kirksville, Maryville, Clinton and several other locations. The demonstrations were spurred by the 50501 movement, a network of opposition that organizes and calls for protests across the country. The number refers to 50 protests, 50 states, one movement, according to the organization's website. It began on the social media platform Reddit after Trump's second inauguration in January. The movement issued a statement earlier this month that 'all No Kings events adhere to a shared commitment to nonviolent protest and community safety.' Saturday is also Flag Day, a federal holiday that marks the adoption of the American flag on the date in 1777. No protest rally will be held in Washington, D.C., with the organizers saying it will 'make action everywhere else the story of America that day.' The rally in Columbia will be a 'nonpartisan event,' Stack said. It is not in direct response to the presence of the National Guard and ICE in Los Angeles, Stack said, but federal action on the streets of California is emblematic of what will be protested. 'We're not aligned with one particular party,' Stack said. 'We're just concerned about the policies.' The goals of 'No Kings' are to 'give people a chance to come together to air grievances' and 'honor the human rights and civil rights that we all have,' he said. Cutting federal funding, deporting immigrants, enacting policies that 'benefit the wealthiest of the wealthy' and laying off scores of federal employees are examples of the grievances, Stack said. The demonstration in Columbia will begin at 11 a.m. at the Boone County Courthouse, 705 E. Walnut St. Speakers will address the crowd until about 12:30 p.m., when there will be a march through downtown. This story originally appeared in the Columbia Missourian. It can be republished in print or online.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
U.S. Army 250th birthday three-day celebration set to be held in Philadelphia and Valley Forge
U.S. Army soldiers work on an assortment of M1 Alpha a3 Abrams tanks, stryker armored vehicles, and M2 Bradley fighting vehicles at West Potomac Park along the Potomac River on June 11, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Tanks and other heavy military equipment have arrived in the nation's capital for a military parade in honor of the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary, which coincides with President Donald Trump's birthday and Flag Day. (Photo by) Although the vast majority of attention has been directed towards Washington D.C. for the upcoming weekend, the Philadelphia region will be hosting a three-day celebration to mark the U.S. Army's 250th birthday. The Army was founded in Philadelphia. Erica Liermann, a retired U.S. Army staff sergeant, is the director of Marketing and Communications for the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Penn and Franklin Chapters, a non-profit organization. She said that the weekend is an opportunity to 'celebrate our heritage' and focus on the history that the city has to offer. 'This event is not political,' Liermann said during a joint informational meeting of the state House and Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness committees. The gathering kicks off on Friday afternoon in Valley Forge and includes a guided tour of the Washington Memorial Chapel, a Medal of Honor Grove tour and wreath laying ceremony. Both are free and open to the public. The final event of the evening will be a cocktail reception that is a ticketed event. The bulk of the celebration will take place on Saturday in Philadelphia. It begins in the morning with an opening ceremony at Independence Mall that includes a flag-raising ceremony, the national anthem, and remarks from elected officials and military leaders. A brief military and civilian parade will be held in the early afternoon that features service members, veteran groups, re-enactors, marching bands, and SOCOM Para-Commando Parachute Demonstration. An enlistment ceremony will take place later in the afternoon that will feature 250 new soldiers taking their oath, followed by an Army Field Band Concert. 'We are just turning the city into a party hall,' Liermann said. 'We want everyone to consider everybody family. Everyone is welcome to join, to bring anybody.' Liermann emphasized that these events, which are free and open to the public, will be family friendly and include rock walls. She also said there will be military and armored vehicles on display, although they will not be rolling down the street. On Saturday evening, an invitation-only gathering will take place at the 1st City Troop Armory in Philadelphia. The events wrap up on Sunday morning in Philadelphia with a church service at Christ Church, which will include remarks from the former Under Secretary of the U.S. Army Patrick Murphy, who represented a Bucks County-based district in the U.S. House from 2007-2011. Following mass, there will be a George Washington Commissioning Reenactment on the north side of Independence Hall, a procession to Washington Square, a wreath laying ceremony, and final words to mark the weekend long celebration. All of these events on Sunday are free and open to the public. Thomas Long is a retired U.S. Army sergeant and organizer for GoArmy250, the group planning the event. He said the celebration is going to be monumental. 'The birthplace of the Army, the birthplace of the Navy, and the birthplace of the Marines are here, the same birthplace as the nation, but we came first,' he said. Long, a disabled veteran, noted that Saturday is also Flag Day and Philadelphia will host the Navy and Marines 250th birthday celebrations later this year in the fall. Earlier in the week, state Sen. Doug Mastriano, chairman of the Senate Veterans and Emergency Preparedness Committee and a retired U.S. Army colonel, held an event in Harrisburg honoring the U.S. Army's anniversary. The state House also unanimously adopted a resolution sponsored by state Rep. Jim Haddock (D-Luzerne), designating June 14, 2025, as the '250th Birthday of the United States Army' in the state. In central Pennsylvania, the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle is opening its new exhibit on Saturday 'This We'll Defend: Celebrating 250 years of Army History.' A spokesperson told the Capital-Star that this museum is free of charge and open to the public.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Stage is set and tanks are arriving to celebrate Army's 250th anniversary on Trump's birthday
WASHINGTON – The stage is being set – literally – for the military parade June 14 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army that coincides with President Donald Trump's birthday. Construction workers are erecting a stage along Constitution Avenue near the White House. Steel plates have been embedded in the asphalt to protect roads from 140,000-pound tanks. And the tanks themselves – and other military vehicles – have begun arriving by train. "The Army's 250th birthday is a once-in-a-lifetime event," Col. Kamil Sztalkoper, a spokesperson for the III Armored Corps, said as one of the trains left Fort Cavazos in Texas bound for Washington. "This is a chance to see our soldiers, our leaders and the world-class force on full display in our nation's capital. We look forward to being a part of history." The daylong festival along the National Mall will feature a parade and fireworks display. The parade will include about 6,600 soldiers, 150 vehicles and 50 aircraft, according to the Army. Trump told NBC News the cost – budgeted at $30 million and potentially rising to $45 million – is 'peanuts' compared with celebrating 'the greatest military in the world.' Democratic lawmakers have argued Trump is wielding the military for his own political purposes. Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, said the event is 'all about his ego and making everything about him.' The first tanks bound for the capital began moving May 21. A nearly mile-long train carried M1 Abrams tanks, M2 Bradley vehicles, M109 Paladins and Strykers about 1,300 miles from Texas to the capital for the parade. Soldiers and their equipment will be housed in a Department of Agriculture building and a warehouse owned by the General Service Administration. Chow will consist of two MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) and one hot meal per day. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tanks arrive for Army parade to celebrate 250th anniversary
