The M-2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle is not a tank, but troops do call it the “Tank Killer.” In Ukraine, Bradleys are getting credit for holding back Russian advances, and new footage from the frontlines shows just how appropriate the Bradley’s nickname really is.
The video was originally posted by Ukraine’s 47th Mechanized Brigade and shows a Russian T-90 tank called a “Breakthrough” — supposedly a peer to the American-made Abrams. But the only things breaking through are the rounds from a pair of Bradleys using 25mm Bushmaster autocannons.
The Bushmaster can fire armor-piercing sabot or high-explosive rounds. Based on the video footage, it’s likely the T-90 was on the receiving end of some AP ammo, which led to a nice cook-off on the tank.
Another angle of the encounter showed the T-90 trying to escape after that secondary explosion. Its turret can be seen spinning erratically before it hits a tree and the crew tries to bail out.
Even two against one, the T-90 should have been able to make quick work of the Bradleys — at least on paper and according to Russian propaganda.
Even though the whole world can see the video for themselves, Russian propagandists tried to spin the encounter as a victory for the T-90. The truth is, the video is just the latest proof Bradleys are likely the best armored vehicles Ukraine has. After nearly two years of intense fighting, Ukraine may have some of the best Bradley operators in the world.
The U.S. sent Ukraine around 200 of the IFVs, all of them operated exclusively by the 47th Mechanized Brigade. In addition to the Bushmaster autocannon, Bradleys are also equipped with a pair of TOW wire-guided, anti-tank missile launchers. The launchers are mounted to the turret and can hit targets up to almost 5000 yards.
Bradley crews get the added benefit of thermal sensors and night-vision scopes to target enemy combatants. So, day or night, they’re on the hunt. Most Russian armored vehicles don’t have thermal sensors, which is partially why stories of a single M2 Bradley taking out multiple Russian armored vehicles aren’t all that uncommon.
In December, near Avdiivka, a single Bradley was sent to deal with three Russian armored vehicles. According to the 47th Mechanized Brigade, the attack was over before it began.
Now, the Bradley isn’t invincible. Russia destroyed at least 31 so far in the war, but no amount of Russian propaganda can dispel the truth that Bradleys are keeping Ukraine in the war.
