$147.3M for Bradley IFV Resets & Conversions
The U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, MI has issued a pair of contracts for the RESET (restoration of used vehicles to like-new condition) of Bradley Armored Fighting Vehicles. One contract will reset 101 Bradleys of the 1st Cav division, while the other resets a total of 125 Bradleys, including a number of machines now in the second and final stage of conversion from M6 Bradley Linebacker air defense vehicles to M2A2 ODS Infantry Fighting Vehicles.
The Bradley Combat System fulfills critical infantry, cavalry, fire support, battle command and engineer roles for the Army’s heavy brigades. Its firepower, mobility, and protection against RPGs have made it a valuable asset in Operation Iraqi Freedom, both during the daring push to Baghdad and “Thunder Run” and in subsequent stabilization operations. The M2 carries a crew (commander, gunner and driver), plus 6 fully equipped infantry. The M3 performs scout missions and carries a crew plus 2 scouts.
In conjunction with the company’s Public Private Partnership with the Army’s Red River Army Depot (RRAD), BAE Systems has been awarded a contract modification worth $70.1 million to return 101 Bradleys to combat ready status for the 1st Cavalry Division. Disassembly and component overhaul work will be performed at RRAD and BAE Systems in Fayette County, PA. Final assembly and test will be conducted at the company’s York, PA facility.
Work on this effort begins immediately, and vehicles are expected to be delivered through March 2006.
BAE Systems in York, PA also received a $77.2 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the reset of 125 Bradley Vehicles, plus associated fleet standard modifications and Blue Force Tracking mounting provisions that will bring them up to M2A2 ODS standard (DAAE07-01-C-M016). These machines will not have the full digital electronic infrastructure and future upgradeability of the M2A3 and M3A3 Bradley vehicles, but they are the most advanced version of the M2 Bradley IFV without those built-in capabilities and are fully integrated with the modern force.
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Interestingly, many of the machines in this second contract are actually former M6 Bradley Linebacker air defense systems. The M6 Linebacker is an M2A2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle that has exchanged its TOW anti-armor missile box for a box launcher from the Avenger air defense system containing 4 short range Stinger surface-to-air missiles, and added appropriate radar and fire control electronics inside. It’s optimized for use as mobile short-range air defense for fast-moving armored cavalry units, but can be employed in stationary roles as well.
Army-Technology.com notes that 99 total M6 Linebacker units were delivered to the U.S. Army, and further notes that In February 2005, United Defense (now BAE Systems Land and Armament) was awarded a contract from the US Army’s Tank-automotive and Armaments Command to remove the Stinger missile systems from 88 Bradley Linebackers and convert the vehicles to standard M2A2 ODS infantry fighting vehicles by June 2006. Many of the vehicles in this contract represent Phase 2 of that effort.
Disassembly and component overhaul work will be performed at Red River Army Depot and BAE Systems in Fayette County, PA. Other work locations will include Aiken, SC and San Jose, CA. Final assembly and test will be conducted at the company’s York, PA facility, and will be complete by March 6, 2006.
DID wishes to thank communications Herb Muktarian of BAE Systems for his assitance with this report. See all Bradley-related coverage at DID.
