M2 Bradley

The M2 Bradley, also called the Bradley IFV, is an American infantry fighting vehicle and the best known member of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle family. It is made by BAE Systems Land and Armaments, formerly United Defense. Design began in 1963 as an answer to the Soviet amphibious BMP family, with the aim of a vehicle that could carry infantry and also kill tanks while keeping pace with the M1 Abrams, which the older M113 could not do. It entered service in 1981 and fielding began in 1983. The crew is a commander, a gunner and a driver, with six dismounted soldiers, and the main weapon is the M242 25 millimetre autocannon backed by a coaxial machine gun and a TOW missile launcher. Aluminium armour was later reinforced in the A2 and A3 upgrades. Operators include the United States, Saudi Arabia, Croatia, Lebanon and Ukraine.