US M2 Bradley vs Russia’s BMP 3 – Which IFV is better?
The 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces defines an infantry fighting vehicle as “an armored combat vehicle which is designed and equipped primarily to transport a combat infantry squad, and which is armed with an integral or organic cannon of at least 20 millimeters caliber and sometimes an antitank missile launcher”. In this episode, we will be comparing two of the most popular Infantry Fighting Vehicles in use today, the American M2 Bradley and the Russian BMP-3. We will be looking at their performance, fire control system, and firepower in order to determine which one is a better overall IFV. So without further ado, let’s get started! The Bradley Fighting Vehicle is an American IFV that was designed to replace the M113 armored personnel carrier. Named after World War 2 General Omar Bradley, the IFV entered service with the U.S. Army in 1981. On the other hand, the first version of BMP-3 is based on BMP which was designed for the Red army. The Bradley is powered by a 8-cylinder diesel engine that produces 600hp and 1660 Newton-meter of torque. This gives the Bradley excellent power, allowing it to climb steep and rough terrain. The Bradley has a top speed of 41mph and 25mph off-road. In amphibious mode, the vehicle can drive at a maximum speed of 4.5mph. Its combat-loaded weight is around 31 tons and has operational range of 300mi. On the contrary, the BMP-3’s engine is outfitted in the back of the vehicle, which gives the IFV a better power-to-weight ratio. The engine generates 500hp and can push the vehicle to a top speed of 45mph, 28mph off-road, and 6mph in amphibious mode. The BMP-3 weighs around 22 tons and comes with an operational range of 370mi. A semicircular shield is installed at the turret’s rear to add protection and cargo space. Similarly, the BMP-3 is a highly survivable vehicle thanks to its advanced composite armor protection. The vehicle’s hull is reinforced with steel plates to protect against mines and IEDs. The M2 Bradley is equipped with the latest navigation system, target acquisition, and fire control system. For enhanced situational awareness, the vehicle is installed with a forward-looking infrared and electro-optical thermal imaging system. The system can even track two moving targets to deploy TOW missiles simultaneously. Similarly, the BMP-3 is equipped with a digital fire control system and the latest optics. Both the gunner and commander can manually override the automatic fire control system. The vehicle is equipped with a laser rangefinder, electro-mechanical armament stabilizer, and a ballistic computer. The M2 Bradley’s 25mm Bushmaster chain gun is its primary weapon. The gunner can either select single or multiple shot modes. During the desert storm, various instances were reported where this gun destroyed tanks as well. For engaging heavier targets, the Bradley is mounted with TOW 2 missile system on the left of the turret. The Bradley is outfitted with firing ports, providing a button-up firing position for the gunners. In comparison, the primary weapon of BMP-3 is a 100mm semi-automatic rifled gun. The anti-tank guided missile can penetrate 600mm thick armor tanks and low-flying targets from a distance of 2.5mi. A 7.62mm machine gun is mounted coaxially on the turret. The IFV is also armed with two 7.62mm bow machine guns. As per the manufacturer’s claim, all weapons can fire while still, on the move, and afloat with the same effectiveness.
Credit to : Grid 88
