Russian troops fear American Bradley as Ukraine's secret weapon

Ukrainians possess a weapon that every soldier of the Russian Federation dreads encountering, writes Newsweek, citing a commander from the 47th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. We're talking about the American Bradley, which has repeatedly saved Ukrainian lives and even engaged vehicles theoretically stronger than itself.

The American fighting vehicle is once again widely discussed among Ukrainians. They can't stop praising it, as Russian soldiers tend to avoid confrontations with it. Despite the aggressor's army claiming to battle the "exhausted forces of Kyiv," they constantly avoid clashes with Bradley fighting vehicles – Newsweek reports.

Russians know what a Bradley is. They don't want to face this machine. I wouldn't want to be in their place, said the commander of the 47th Mechanized Brigade, which has American Bradley vehicles and M1 Abrams tanks in its arsenal. Simultaneously, Ukrainians note that Russians are intensely hunting for these fighting vehicles.

Defenders explain that Russian artillery systems "always try to locate the Bradley," but kamikaze drones are also a significant problem. There are more and more of them, and the enemy is dynamically taking over terrain, said the soldier. Drones and artillery are essentially the only solutions for the Russian Federation that might effectively destroy the Bradley. In close-range combat, "Russian soldiers are afraid to initiate operations when they see a Bradley against them."

According to Pentagon documents, the United States has handed over more than 300 Bradley vehicles to Ukraine and four support vehicles. These armoured beasts from the USA have proven their effectiveness in the past, confirming that they are almost indestructible, including during a duel with one of the best Russian tanks, the T-90M Proryv. The M2 Bradley has also survived attacks from BM-21 Grad launchers and T-72 tanks, and it didn't stop even when it hit a mine. A heroic rescue mission in which the vehicle saved allies from Russian armed forces' fire is also worth mentioning.

The Bradley's praised durability is owed to its armour, which is made from a combination of steel, aluminium, and composites. The exact composition varies depending on the vehicle version and, more specifically, the area in which the Bradley is intended to be used. Offensive capabilities are guaranteed by a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster cannon accompanied by a 7.62 mm machine gun. This combination effectively eliminates even heavily armoured units, including tanks.

The Bradley's armour and weaponry make it rightly considered one of the best of its kind in the world. Additionally, this American design is highly mobile, thanks to a power unit producing 370 or 450 kilowatts (depending on the year of production), which accelerates the vehicle to a maximum speed of 70 kilometres per hour on land and up to 10 kilometres per hour in water.