

M2 infantry Bradleys also have firing ports for M231 Firing Port Weapons (FPWs), providing a means for the occupants to fire from within the vehicle and replacing the top-side gunners on the M113-based Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicles, although the M231 is rarely employed. This was modified to fire TOW II missile from the M2A1 model onward. For engaging heavier targets (such as acting in an antitank fashion), the Bradley carries a TOW missile system. It is also armed with an M240C medium machine-gun mounted coaxially to the M242, with 2,200 rounds of 7.62x51 mm ammunition. The M919 was used in combat during the 2003 invasion phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Subsequent ammunition developments resulted in the M919 APFSDS-T ( Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot with tracer) round containing a finned depleted-uranium penetrator similar in concept to armor-piercing munitions used in modern tanks.

A few kills against Iraqi T-72 tanks at close range are reported. The tungsten APDS-T rounds proved effective in Desert Storm, capable of knocking out many Iraqi vehicles, including several T-55 tanks. The two ready-boxes allow a selectable mix of rounds, such as the M791 APDS-T (Armor-Piercing Discarding Sabot (with) Tracer) and M792 HEI-T (High Explosive Incendiary (with) Tracer) rounds. The cannon carries 300 rounds of ammunition in two ready boxes (one of 70 rounds, the other of 230 rounds), with an extra 600 rounds in storage for the M2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle variant or 1,200 stowed rounds for the M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle variant. The M242 is a single-barrel chain gun with an integrated dual-feed mechanism and remote feed selection. The Bradley is equipped with the 25 mm M242 Bushmaster as its main weapon. One design requirement specified that it should be as fast as the M1 Abrams main battle tank, so the vehicles could maintain formation.Ī Bradley firing the M242 25 mm (1 in) chain gun The Bradley was meant to serve as both an armored personnel carrier and a tank-killer.

The Bradley was developed largely in response to the Soviet BMP family of infantry fighting vehicles.

The Bradley is designed to transport infantry or scouts with armor protection, while providing covering fire to suppress enemy troops and armored vehicles. The Bradley Fighting Vehicle ( BFV) is a tracked armoured fighting vehicle platform of the United States developed by FMC Corporation and manufactured by BAE Systems Land & Armaments, formerly United Defense.
