M3 Bradley

Cavalry Fighting Vehicle (CFV) / Armored Reconnaissance Scout Tracked Combat Vehicle [ 1983 ]

The M3 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicle is a dedicated armored scout variant of the M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

Authored By: Dan Alex | Last Edited: 03/21/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image courtesy of the United States Department of Defense image database.

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The M3 Bradley CFV (Cavalry Fighting Vehicle) is very similar in most respects to the M2 Bradley IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) and varies in a few subtle ways and by defined battlefield role. While the original M2 is designed for the IFV role - carrying troops under protection and supplying support firepower - the M3 is intended for the armored scout/reconnaissance role, doing away with side firing ports and seating for six/seven infantry. Two scout positions are added as is additional communications equipment. The M3 also holds more ammunition storage (25mm, 7.62mm and TOW missiles) while fielding the same multi-purpose, two-man powered 25mm-armed turret. The 7.62mm coaxial machine gun is retained as an infantry defense measure.

The Bradley family as a whole was originally intended to support the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) detailed elsewhere on this site and appeared as a direct counter to the Soviet BMP series of 1966. Adopted in 1980 and fielded beginning in 1981, the M2 Bradley forms a companion vehicle to the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank - able to keep up for fast-moving mechanized formations and providing much-needed firepower to disembarking infantry.

During the Persian Gulf War of 1991, the Bradley accounted for more tanks destroyed than the M1 Abrams itself though at least seventeen of the M2s were lost to friendly fire however (three lost to enemy fire). Improvements to the Bradley family have included enhanced identification features as well as anti-tank missile countermeasures (for first generation wire-guided missiles) and improved armor protection through explosive-reactive armor.

The M3 Bradley CFV is powered by a Cummins VTA-903 diesel engine coupled to a General Electric HMPT-500 series transmission system. Road speeds reach 40 miles per hour with an operational range out to 300 miles. A typical operating crew is three - driver, commander and gunner - with two scouts.

Original models were the M3 and heavily based on a modified M2 Bradley. The M3A1 improved the NBC protection of the crew with other subtle changes added. The M3A2 increased armor protection through ERA block kits while a GPS and laser-rangefinder were added after the 1991 Gulf War. The M3A3 is an all-digital variant which improved situational awareness of the crew and their survivability as well as communications with participating fighting forces. All variants are directly tied to their corresponding M2 Bradley variants and their respective changes.

Armament remains largely the same on the M3 as on the M2 vehicle - 1 x 25mm main gun, 1 x 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, TOW-2 Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) support (though with 12 missiles).©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Service Year

1983

Origin

United States

Status

ACTIVE
In Active Service.

Crew

5
CREWMEN

Production

500
UNITS

United Defense LP Ground Systems - USA

(View other Vehicle-Related Manufacturers)

United States

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Infantry Support
Support allied ground forces through weapons, inherent capabilities, and / or onboard systems.

✓ Reconaissance
Can conduct reconnaissance / scout missions to assess threat levels, enemy strength, et al - typically through lightweight design.

Track-and-Wheel Arrangement

Vehicle utilizes a track-and-wheel arrangement to provide enhanced cross-country travel capability.

Primary Turret

A modern tank quality, this vehicle sports its main armament in a single turret.

Traversable Main Armament

Armament is situated in a traversing component, allowing for all-around engagement of enemy threats.

Recoil Enhancement

Main weapon has an integral recoil mechanism, allowing the system to remain trained-on-target after firing.

Firing On-the-Move

A modern quality, onboard systems provide accuracy to primary armament allowing for firing on-the-move.

NBC Protection

Crew is provided (either as standard or optional) protection against Nuclear-Biological-Chemical agents for enhanced survivability in contaminated zones.

Nightvision

Crew has access to night-vision equipment, allowing for low-light or night time operations.

Anti-Tank Capable

Onboard solution provides ability to neutralize armored or fortified targets at range through missile or penetrating ballistic weapons.

Anti-Infantry

Vehicle features an in-built anti-infantry capability for local defense of the vehicle or general troop suppression.

Versatility

Vehicle's proven running gear and overall makeup lends itself well to fulfill other battlefield roles by way of specialized designs.

Length

21.0 ft
6.4 m

Width

10.2 ft
3.1 m

Height

9.7 ft
2.95 m

Weight

49,946 lb
22,655 kg

Tonnage

25.0 tons
MEDIUM

(Showcased structural values pertain to the base M3 Bradley production variant. Length typically includes main gun in forward position if applicable to the design)

Powerplant: 1 x Cummins VTA-903T turbocharged 8-cylinder diesel engine developing 600 horsepower at 2,600rpm driving conventional track-and-wheel arrangement.

Speed

41.0 mph
(66.0 kph)

Range

298.3 mi
(480.0 km)

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base M3 Bradley production variant. Compare this entry against any other in our database)

1 x 25mm automatic main gun in turret.
1 x 7.62mm machine gun in co-axial mounting in turret.
2 x TOW-2 Anti-Tank Guided-Missile (ATGM) launchers.
2 x 4 Smoke grenade dischargers.

Supported Types

Graphical image of a tank cannon armament

Graphical image of a tank anti-tank guided missile

Graphical image of a tank medium machine gun

Graphical image of tank /armored vehicle smoke grenade dischargers

(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)

1,500 x 25mm projectiles.

4,400 x 7.62mm ammunition.

12 x TOW-2 ATGM missiles.

8 x Smoke grenades.

M3 Bradley CFV - Cavalry Fighting Vehicle variant of the original M2 Bradley IFV series.

M3A1 - Improved NBC; introduction of fire suppression system; periscope rearrangement.

M3A2 - Improved armor protection; revised NBC suite; GPS navigation; missile countermeasures suite; identification friend or foe.

M3A3 - Improved digital capabilities; improved communications with other battlefield systems including air support; improved weapons performance.

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