With Plenty of Parts, Expertise, Ukraine Restoring Battle-Damaged Bradleys

As US- supplied Bradley infantry fighting vehicles have continued to prove their value at the front, they are being used more, which also means they are likely to be damaged in battle at a higher rate. 

The even better news is that the Bradley is not only famously resilient, even from FPV drone strikes, but that there are both plenty of available spare parts and growing expertise in order to return them to the front as quickly as possible. JL

Defense Express reports:

In the first two months of this year alone, over 20 Bradley vehicles were restored — more than 10 per month. 60 were restored over the entire previous year, averaging five per month, while only 12 were restored in 2023. Most damage comes from FPV drones.  Among the positive factors is availability of sufficient equipment - for instance, the FRSN M/22 vehicle, which helps extract turrets and engines. There is a sufficient stock of spare parts, which are delivered very quickly and there is also the practice of using parts from vehicles that are beyond repair.

Ukraine’s Defense Forces operate American-made M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. As Ukrainian military say, the vehicles have proven effective on russia-Ukraine war battlefield – especially due to their high level of protection.

Some insights into how repairs of these IFVs are carried out in Ukraine were shared by the Command of the Logistics Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine recently,

 

Photo credit: the Command of the Logistics Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

They first recalled the reorganization plans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, under which all repair units were subordinated to the Commander of the Logistics Forces. However, as noted by Yurii, commander of a dedicated M2 Bradley repair team, these changes didn’t significantly affect their work — the team functions as "a well-coordinated mechanism" and has managed to retain narrowly specialized experts.

 

Photo credit: the Command of the Logistics Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

“The volume of [vehicle restoration] work hasn’t decreased,” Yurii emphasized. He also spoke about well-established cooperation with Ukrainian military-industry complex factories, which help restore vehicles damaged by anti-tank mines or shells.

American-made M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles have proven effective on russia-Ukraine war battlefield / Photo credit: the Command of the Logistics Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

“These vehicles need to be fully ‘welded’ — we restore the engine, chassis, and hull. Our industrial partners help us significantly by welding severely damaged hulls, restoring frames, and so on,” the specialist explained. At the same time, today most damage comes from FPV drone strikes.

 

Photo credit: the Command of the Logistics Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

The serviceman shared some figures on M2 Bradley repair rates. In the first two months of this year alone, over 20 vehicles were restored — more than 10 per month. For comparison, 60 vehicles were restored over the entire previous year, averaging five per month, while only 12 were restored in 2023. In some cases, when the damage is too severe and the repair too complex, the vehicles are sent abroad. The percentage of such cases out of the total number under repair is not disclosed.

Among the positive factors, the serviceman firstly noted the availability of sufficient equipment — for instance, the FRSN M/22 vehicle, which helps extract turrets and engines. Secondly, there is a sufficient stock of spare parts, which are delivered very quickly — just a few days after the request is made. Naturally, there is also the practice of using parts from donor vehicles that are beyond repair.

The United States has delivered over 300 M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine / Photo credit: the Command of the Logistics Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

“We hope that specialized repair facilities for foreign equipment will eventually be established. But by that time, the situation on the frontlines of russia-Ukraine war may change again, and we may have to repair other, more modern and effective types of weapons and military equipment” the serviceman concluded.