Additional Coverage:
- Old US Bradleys becoming ‘legend’ in Ukraine shows what the country can do when it gets enough of the weapons it needs (newsbreak.com)
Ukrainian forces have found notable success in their use of American-supplied Bradley infantry fighting vehicles amidst ongoing conflicts with Russia. A military expert shared with Business Insider that this success shows the potential of Ukraine when adequately equipped, highlighting that the significant supply of Bradleys has allowed for more tactical freedom compared to other, less plentiful armored vehicles like Abrams tanks, of which only 31 have been sent.
Col. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, formerly of the UK’s Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Regiment, pointed out that the quantity of Bradleys has allowed Ukrainian forces to employ them more strategically than other tanks in their arsenal. “They’ve got a lot of them,” said Hamish, adding, “If they had a lot of Abrams and Challengers as well, their use would differ.”
The staggered and limited way in which weapons systems have been supplied by Western partners to Ukraine has faced criticism. Experts argue that receiving weapons in large numbers without significant delays allows armed forces to use them in more versatile and risk-prone operations which can lead to substantial battlefield achievements.
Despite the Bradleys not being the latest model in armored military equipment, having entered service in the 1980s as a counter to Soviet models, they have proven highly adaptable and efficient in combat situations. They have been effectively used against a variety of targets including infantry, fortifications, drones, and even advanced enemy tanks.
Critiques have also been directed at the manner of Western military assistance, which has often been slow and fragmented, arriving in small batches that do not necessarily enable long-term strategic planning. According to de Bretton-Gordon, quicker and more substantial support in the form of larger numbers of tanks, for instance, could have made a dramatic difference early on in the conflict.
The article also covered the insights of Nicholas Drummond, a former British Army officer who now serves as a land-warfare analyst, who cited the Bradley’s lighter frame and high-rate-of-fire cannon as key factors in its efficacy, making it capable of navigating terrains that heavier tanks cannot and providing robust fire support.
Overall, the Bradley vehicles have carved a formidable reputation in the current conflict, showcasing that with adequate resources, Ukrainian forces can effectively counter some of the more advanced military technologies employed by Russian forces.