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M7 Bradley BFIST
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Just as BAE Systems was closing its acquisition deal for United Defense LP, the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, MI issued $1.143 billion worth of delivery orders to that firm re: the firm’s M2/M3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

M2A3 Bradley

The first set of outlays are all delivery orders under contract W56HZV-05-G-0005. This was a sole source contract initiated on March 1, 2005. Work on these delivery orders will be performed in York, PA (83%), Aiken, SC (5%), San Jose, CA (8%), and Fayette, PA (4%), and is expected to be complete by Jan. 31, 2008.

• A delivery order amount of $896.4 million as part of a $967.9 million firm-fixed-price contract for the remanufacture of Bradley M2A3 and M3A3 vehicles.

• The full delivery order amount of $18.6 million as part of an $18.6 million firm-fixed-price contract for the A3 associated stockage list spares.

• The full delivery order amount of $78.4 million as part of a $78.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for the remanufacture of Operation Desert Storm vehicles and conversion kits. Operation Desert Storm took place in 1991.

• The full delivery order amount of $31.4 million as part of a $31.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for the remanufacture of M7 Bradley Fire Support Team Vehicles. The M7 is a variant of the M2 Bradley used as an artillery forward observer vehicle and laser designator, providing major improvements in first round artillery accuracy on a platform whose mobility and survivability is the same as the maneuver units being supported (many artillery observation vehicles are built on jeep-like platforms instead). Its performance during Operation Iraqi Freedom was reported to be impressive.

United Defense LP also received a $30.6 million modification to a firm-fixed-price contract for the commander’s independent viewers inside the Bradley vehicle. Work will be performed in York, Pa. (83%), Aiken, S.C. (5%), San Jose, Calif. (8%), and Fayette, Pa. (4%), and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2008. This was a sole source contract initiated on March 1, 2005. The U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, MI issued the contract (DAAE07-01-C-M016).

In addition, the firm recently received a $16.1 million modification to a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Systems Technical Support and Logistics Services for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and Multiple Launch Rocket Systems and their derivative vehicles (like HIMARS). This contract appears to involve buying hourly blocks of time, mostly to support refurbishment of Bradley vehicles that have served in Iraq and “reset” to like-new condition. Work will be performed in Santa Clara, CA and is expected to be complete by Nov. 30, 2006. This was a sole source contract initiated on Dec. 28, 2000. The U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, MI issued the contract (DAAE07-01-C-M011).

Additional Readings

• Association of the United States Army, Army Magazine (June 2005) – Bradley A3. Good overview of the Bradley modernization program.

• Ft. Sill, OK – Fire Support Branch (re: M7 Bradley BFIST)

• Lt. Col. James L. Miller, Field Artillery Magazine (Sept-Oct 2002) – How to Develop the Best-Ever Fire Support System [PDF]. Good explanation re: the doctrinal, training, and support elements that go into this effort. See also his maintenance notes re: the M7 Bradley BFIST.