The Defense Forces of Ukraine are armed with the best infantry fighting vehicles in the world. This statement is true for both the American M2 Bradley and the Swedish CV90 infantry fighting vehicles. Ukrainian warriors have a unique opportunity to compare these two vehicles on the battlefield in real combat conditions against russian occupation forces.
ArmyTV shared a story where Ukrainian troops compared the American M2 Bradley and the Swedish CV90, highlighting the strengths of each.
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The initial test focused on speed — determining which vehicle takes less time to reach a specific point. The CV90 proved to be faster. At the same time, it's important to consider the significant weight difference between the two vehicles, especially since the M2 Bradley featured in the video is equipped with BRAT II reactive armor. According to the vehicle's commander, call sign Kot from the 47th Brigade, this armor is a real lifesaver in combat.
When it comes to protection, the M2 Bradley's resilience is nothing short of legendary. The serviceman highlights the vehicle's high level of protection against a variety of threats, including its ability to withstand ATGM strikes and detonations from one or even two anti-tank mines.
At the same time, the commander of a mechanized company from the 21st Brigade, call sign Neo, adds that the CV90 also withstands up to two mine explosions, keeping the crew unharmed. In contrast, the CV90 has the advantage of Barracuda multi-spectral camouflage. The video also shows a test of fire accuracy, and here's what the soldier stressed about the CV90:
"The explosive impact of the shell is significantly greater. Each shell fragment spreads about 15 meters, so I don't have to cover the whole enemy position — I can fire shells spaced 10 meters apart. When it comes to armored targets, an armor-piercing discarding sabot round can penetrate up to 100 mm, possibly even more. <...> We have a trump card — the ability to shoot very accurately from protected positions, up to 12,000 meters," Neo says.
Instead, Kot says the following about the M2 Bradley: "I would say we have slightly less fragmentation, around 10 meters, but our rapid fire rate makes up for it — it works well, with good accuracy. When we need to cover the infantry, we provide support during the retreat. I have a larger ammo capacity. The rate of fire is more significant, in my opinion. The APDS round can penetrate up to 70 mm of armor." In addition, he points out the availability of TOW anti-tank missiles as a big plus for the M2 Bradley.
The Bradley commander says he would be willing to "swap" the Bradley's gun for that of the CV90, as long as the firepower is maintained, while the CV90 commander suggests adding explosive reactive armor to protect the vehicle's front.
When it comes to disembarkment, CV90 performs quite well but the M2 Bradley proved to be more comfortable, he added.
Optical equipment is better in the Bradley IFV. "We have a night camera, thermal imagers for the driver. The paratroopers have displays, allowing them to see where the driver is heading and where the gunner is aiming. They are always aware of the situation outside, which is a significant advantage."
Earlier, Defense Express covered M2 Bradley repairs in Ukraine.
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