A Blog by Jonathan Low

 

Jan 21, 2025

Why Ukrainian Forces Consider the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle "Indestructible"

82mm mortar hits? Ukrainian troops say they dont feel them. Mines? The vehicle didnt stop and they didnt realize what had happened. Antitank guided missile strike? No problem. 

The Bradley is a beast on the battlefield and Ukrainian troops love its reliability and capacity to endure just about anything the Russians can throw at it. JL

Defense Express reports:

The US has delivered 300 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles to Ukrainian armed forces. The Ukrainian military is giving more and more positive feedback on this equipment. In particular, Oleksandr Krokovets, a Hero of Ukraine, war veteran, and vehicle commander in the 47th Mechanized Brigade, praised the Bradley's endurance. "Russian equipment is not bad, but in terms of armor and crew and infantry safety, it falls far short of the Bradley. When an 82 mm mortar hits, you don't feel it at all. When we were hit by mines, there was no fire, no smoke, and the vehicle did not stop, did not realize what had happened. When an anti-tank guided missile hit the Bradley everything turned out fine."

The M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, currently in service with the Defense Forces of Ukraine, can be called one of the best. The Ukrainian military is giving more and more positive feedback on this equipment. In particular, Oleksandr Krokovets, a Hero of Ukraine, war veteran, and vehicle commander in the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade, praised the Bradley's endurance during an interview with Army TV.

"russian equipment, even the newer models, is not bad at all, but in terms of armor and crew and infantry safety, it falls far short of the Bradley," Krokovets said. He noted that, despite being decades old [introduced in 1981], it is difficult to find a comparable IFV today. "Of course, the equipment is cool. When an 82 mm mortar hits, it’s like striking a piece of plywood—it even makes a similar sound. You don't feel it at all," the warrior says.

Read more: ​Novelties and Surprises of the New German Military Aid Package For Ukraine
Ukrainian Military Tells How Bradley IFVs Save Ukrainian Troops in Extreme Conditions, Defense Express
Bradley IFV / Open source illustrative photo

Krokovets repeatedly says how reliable and protected the Bradley is. "We were hit by mines, so if there was no fire, no smoke, and the vehicle did not stop, you would not even realize what had happened. Until the vehicle catches fire or the driver-mechanic says 'that's it', the roller is damaged, we cannot move. That's when you realize you have been hit." He also recalls a case when an anti-tank guided missile hit the Bradley, but fortunately, everything turned out fine.

Here is another episode that clearly shows the endurance of this IFV: " The helmet headset and jacket catch fire, the shell continues to fly through the vehicle and burns. I ask the gunner to help put out the fire. He broke open the hatch, let out the smoke, contacted the driver, and asked whether the vehicle was operational. Andriy, the mechanic, did a good job of confirming that the vehicle was operational. He turned around, hit the gas, and we managed to jump out safely. russians realized that we were moving and started to catch up with us with mortars. But it was their mistake not to finish us off right away."

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