Russian soldiers fear going up against the US Bradley infantry fighting vehicle

• Russian troops fear going up against US Bradley vehicles, a Ukrainian commander told Newsweek.
• The Bradley's 25mm chain gun is described as "tearing apart" Russian armored columns.
• A Bradley proved its combat survivability when it withstood a direct hit from a Russian Grad rocket.

Russian soldiers are "afraid" of facing US-supplied Bradley fighting vehicles on the front lines, said a Ukrainian commander, Newsweek reports.

The Ukrainian soldier, who goes by his call sign of "Kach," said that Russian troops in tanks and troop carriers fear going into battle against the tracked armored fighting vehicles.

The Bradley is fast and "very maneuverable" and protects soldiers with its heavy armor, Kach told Newsweek. The Ukrainian commander also praised its "powerful machine gun."

Recent video footage from the intense fighting around Avdiivka, in eastern Ukraine, where the 47th is currently deployed, show Bradleys ravaging Russian columns and positions with its 25mm cannon, that can fire up to 300 rounds per minute.

The Bradley can also take out Russian tanks. In one battle, a Bradley took out two Russian T-72 tanks with its heavy TOW anti-tank missiles. The vehicle has been dubbed a "tank killer."

The Bradley can also serve as a personnel carrier and can carry seven soldiers around the battlefield.

The ability of the Bradley laminate armor to protect its occupants from attack is another feature highly praised by Ukrainian troops.

In June 2023, a Bradley from the 47th Mechanized Brigade withstood a direct hit from a Russian Grad rocket.

Ukrainian soldiers have stated that Bradleys have helped them survive on the battlefield. One soldier said, "We would all probably be dead after the first hit" if they were using Soviet-era carriers. His unit all survived after mines, high-caliber machine guns, and attack drones struck their Bradley multiple times.

186 Bradleys have been sent to Ukraine, along with four Bradley fire support team vehicles, about 100 to 120 of which are actively deployed in operations. The rest serve for parts, training, or replacement when needed.

Their enhanced visibility is also an asset during nighttime assaults. "Target acquisition takes seconds, just seconds. At night, this machine is absolutely priceless, simply invaluable. You capture targets much faster, visibility is better than during the day," said one soldier.

Rob Lee, a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, posted videos on X documenting the vehicles' capabilities.

According to Rice, the Bradley is superior to Russian infantry vehicles because of its speed, lethality, and survivability advantages. The 25mm chain gun, in particular, is described as "tearing apart Russian armored columns," while the TOW missiles provide increased range against armor.

According to Dutch open-source outlet Oryx, 63 Bradleys were damaged or captured between February 2022 and early October 2023. However, many of these may have undergone repairs and returned to service.