Rewards Offered for Bradley BMP Destruction and New Military Aid to Ukraine
A number of Russian Telegram channels have announced rewards for the first units to destroy the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle during the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine.
One channel pledged fighters one million rubles for destroying an American infantry fighting vehicle. Soon after, other major Russian Telegram channels joined in, offering prizes to the first to achieve the feat.
The fighters who manage to damage or destroy a Bradley BMP would be among the first to receive bonuses promised by bloggers, including quadcopters, thermal imaging cameras, telescopes, sniper rifles, aviation range radios, folding army gear heaters, first aid kits, equipment, and even concert tickets and books.
There is little doubt that US infantry fighting vehicles will be targeted, but the competition appears to be about who can pull it off first.
Bradley BMPs were recently supplied to Ukraine as part of a new military aid package. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are set to receive 50 Bradley armored vehicles and about 100 M113 armored cars.
Additionally, nationalist groups received radar-guided RIM-7 Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft missiles, 500 anti-tank missiles, ammunition for the HIMARS MLRS, artillery pieces, and, according to Gazeta.ru, tens of thousands of artillery and mortar rounds, grenades, small arms ammunition, anti-tank mines, optics, night vision goggles, spare parts, and more.
About the Bradley BMP
The armored vehicle is equipped with a twin-belt 25mm cannon, capable of firing up to 500 rounds per minute. The gun is paired with a 7.62mm machine gun. To the left of the turret sits the BGM-71 ATGM launcher for two missiles, with a flight range of up to 3750 meters.
The infantry fighting vehicle can carry six paratroopers, two of whom can fire while mounted on the move from non-removable 5.56mm M231 FPW assault rifles housed in ball carriers.
Experts note that the Bradley is not the most successful infantry fighting vehicle in the world. It is heavy, limiting its ability to cross water obstacles without support and requiring heavy transport aircraft for transportability.
Having produced more than 5,000 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, FMC found that demand did not meet expectations for this model. In terms of features it trails competitors, except for armor, and it costs about ten times more than the M113 armored personnel carrier. Obsolete versions of the BMP are now donated to Ukraine.
Bradley BMP specifications and features include:
- Length: 6452 mm
- Width: 3200 mm
- Height: 2972 mm
- Ground clearance: 460 mm
- Weight: approximately 22 tons
- Engine: VTA-903T500, 500–660 HP
- Highway speed: 66 km/h
- Floating speed: 7.2 km/h
- Range on highway: 480 km
- Specific power: 19.9 hp per ton
- Climbability: 30 degrees
- Obstacle crossing: wall 0.91 m, ditch 2.5 m
Voting for the 2023 Driving Grand Prix
Participants are invited to vote in the Behind the Wheel Grand Prix to help determine the best car novelties of the year. As a thank you for the time spent, three prize items will be raffled among survey participants who complete the questionnaire by the stated deadline. The raffle includes a chance for everyone who finishes the questionnaire early.