Army plans to replenish 50 Bradleys being sent to Ukraine with newer version starting in FY-25

By Dan Schere / January 23, 2023 at 12:27 PM

The Army plans to replenish the 50 Bradley Fighting Vehicles it is sending to Ukraine starting in fiscal year 2025 with the newest version of the vehicle, according to a service official.

The Pentagon announced on Jan. 6 that it would be sending 50 of the M2A2 version of the vehicles to Ukraine as part of a $3 billion security assistance package. This was the first time the United States had included Bradleys in a Ukrainian aid package since the beginning of the Russian invasion nearly a year ago.

According to a statement from Army spokeswoman Ellen Lovett provided to Inside Defense last week, the service will begin receiving M2A4 Bradley replacements starting in FY-25. All replacements will have been received by FY-26, she said.

Last week, DOD announced another Ukrainian military aid package worth $2.5 billion, which includes 59 Bradleys.

The M2A4 Bradley is a medium armored vehicle that is completely digital and provides cross-country mobility, mounted firepower, communications and protection to mechanized infantry, according to the Army. It has upgraded engine and transmission, better track and improved torsion bars, road arms and shock absorbers.

The first unit to be equipped with an M2A4 Bradley was a Third Infantry Division unit at Ft. Stewart, Ga, and the service plans to acquire 700 of them through 2029, The Army Times reported in April 2022.

Last week, Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said that the service should avoid purchasing “new, old stuff” when replenishing weapons and supplies that have been included in Ukrainian aid packages.

The Bradley will eventually be replaced by the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle. Five companies submitted proposals for the detailed design and prototype build and test phases of the competition late last year.

The Army expects to issue up to 3 contracts for these phases of the OMFV competition in the third quarter of FY-23, according to Ashley John, a spokeswoman for the Program Executive Office for Ground Combat Systems.

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