[34] A few kills against Iraqi T-72 tanks at close range are reported. There was more talk Monday about F-16s going to Ukraine. "We see that they are preparing for more war, that they are mobilizing more soldiers, more than 200,000, and potentially even more than that," he said of the Russians. | The ambassador, according to the Telegram channel of the official Russian state news agency TASS, "was asked to clarify the statement of Podolyak, who on the eve actually admitted the participation of Kyiv in the attack on the facility of the Iranian Defense Ministry in Isfahan, Tasnim reported.". [44], In October 2018, the program was re-designated as the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV). The Bradley was developed largely in response to the Soviet BMP family of infantry fighting vehicles. (Photo by Nicolas Armer/picture alliance via Getty Images) [28] Air Force Col. James Burton, an Office of the Secretary of Defense official, advocated the use of comprehensive live fire tests on fully loaded military vehicles to evaluate their survivability. In November 1972, the Army awarded FMC a contract to develop the XM723. Bradley Fighting Vehicles have the ability to carry several military personnel, and they are equipped with a powerful 25 mm cannon. In 2006, total losses included 55 Bradleys destroyed and some 700 others damaged. However, Israel has provided some non-lethal equipment, most recently armored ambulances, according to The Times of Israel. Still, of these tanks, many are believed to be more contemporary and technologically advanced, though the exact number of combat-ready tanks remains unknown. [28][32] The book was adapted into the black comedy film The Pentagon Wars in 1998. [51][unreliable source?] Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Another 12 were damaged. They provide tremendous overwatch to infantry, Chiarelli said. Ukrainian officials reported that Ukrainian forces continued to repel limited Russian counterattacks west and south of Kreminna. June 14, 2022; can you shoot someone stealing your car in florida The Ambassador of Ukraine was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry in connection with the statements of the adviser to the head of Zelensky's office, Mikhail Podolyak, about the drone attack. [citation needed], The Bradley Urban Survival Kit (BUSK) is an upgrade similar to the M1 Abrams TUSK kit. [68], BAE Systems rolled out the first AMPV prototype on 15 December 2016. The Bradley was meant to serve as both an armored personnel carrier and a tank-killer. The several. (ARC Shipping photo), Stevedore drivers worked through the night to load Bradley Fighting Vehicles onto the ARC Integrity Jan. 25 at the Transportation Core Dock in North Charleston, South Carolina. In February 2020, the Army restarted the program, promising to take on more responsibility for funding. Russia warned of "possible consequences of such a dangerous course by Washington.". The BCV integrates an enhanced command and control communication suite to maintain digital interface with maneuver forces and the Tactical Operations Center. The vehicle weight was 15 tons. [57], The M270 MLRS is composed of two major sections, a M269 Launcher Loader Module mated to a M993 carrier vehicle. The contract has been awarded . M1117 Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) Gen. Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, confirmed on Thursday that the next tranche of U.S. military aid to Ukraine would include Bradley Fighting Vehicles, but he had no further details. FCS was canceled in 2009 due to budget cuts. Ukrainian officials reported that Ukrainian forces repelled assaults near Pobieda (about 2.5 miles southeast of Donetsk City) and Vuhledar. U.S. M2 BRADLEY INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLE. Williams, a defense policy researcher with the RAND Corporation. BAE Systems plc BAESY recently clinched a contract for Bradley Fighting Vehicles. ", "More Than $3 Billion in Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine", "Biden Administration Announces Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine", "Thousands Of Army Bradleys Don't Have The Power To Use New Active Protection Systems", "VLADA JE OPET POKRENULA PROCES NABAVE ESKADRILE NOVIH BORBENIH AVIONA Provest e se kroz izravne pregovore s dvije zemlje", "Planiraju otvoriti sredite za odravanje oklopnog vozila Bradley za ovaj dio Europe - novac.hr", "Croatia Bradley Fighting Vehicle Refurbishment/Modernization", "Plenkovi o nabavi Bradleyja: Manje emo platiti, a imat emo vie potpuno opremljenih vozila", " : OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, M2 Bradley & Hellfire AGM-114L! One of the things that I would like to see us, the United States and others do, is help establish maintenance capability inside Ukraine for them to work on all these different vehicles vs. having to bring them back to Poland, or Germany, or Slovakia, or wherever, Hodges told Task & Purpose. It possesses sufficient cross-country mobility to keep up with the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank, medium and long-range firepower capable of defeating any vehicle on the battlefield, and is adequately armored to protect the crew from artillery and small arms threats. The Bradley consists of two types of vehicles, the M2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle and the M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle. However, they still carry the ability to destroy other tanks, rendering them particularly useful against Russia's reportedly aging fleet. M160 Remote Controlled Mine Clearance System. Russia, meanwhile, reportedly has thousands of tanks in its arsenal, though many of these tanks appear to stem from the Soviet era, according to a September report from The Kyiv Independent. Crewed by a driver, gunner, and commander who train and qualify as a single unit, the M2 Bradley safely transports infantry, provides supporting fire, and destroys threatening enemy vehicles. Its M242 25mm Bushmaster chain gun fires armor piercing, high explosive munition at 200 rounds per minute and at distances up to 2,000 meters. (U.S. Transportation Command. #3632. (U.S. Transportation Command photo by Oz Suguitan), Army Sgt. [50], An air defense variant, these vehicles are modified M2A2 ODSs with the TOW missile system replaced with a four-tube Stinger missile system. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. The M2 Bradley entered service in the 1980s as the first American infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), a new concept pioneered by the Soviet Union. Speaking of artillery shells, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said France and Australia agreed to cooperate to make "several thousand" 155-millimeter shells to help Ukraine, which he hoped could start being delivered in the first quarter of this year, Reuters reported Monday. [29], When testing the Bradley, disagreements occurred between Burton and the Aberdeen Proving Ground's Ballistic Research Laboratory (BRL), which preferred smaller, more controlled, "building block" tests. [69] Fielding is planned for 2023. The specific version of the vehicles the U.S. plans to send was reportedly produced in the 1990s, so they aren't the latest iteration of the weapon, according to Forbes. A total of 6,785 M2/M3 Bradleys were produced, including 400 for Saudi Arabia. [3] Some 2,907 Bradleys will be modified to become AMPVs for the U.S. Army. The GT's body was a two-seat coupe with low curved sides and no doors. For increased protection, a V-shaped bottom replaces the flat base. Its total program cost is $5.6 billion, with a per-unit cost of over $3.1 million. [66] BAE projected their AMPV submission to have similar operating costs to the M113 and lower costs than an M2 Bradley, as the platform's most expensive components are related to the omitted turret. It is designed to be remotely operated from a BFV commander's station while riding mounted, as well as being controllable by dismounted infantry. Here are some key takeaways from the latest Institute for the Study of War assessment: As the war in Ukraine grinds on and both sides face arms and ammunition shortages, the Secretary General of NATO on Monday urged South Korea to reconsider its ban on providing weapons directly to Ukraine. It carries equipment for use by dismounted observers. [9] The other alternate vehicle was the West German Marder, which mounted a 20mm autocannon, relatively strong steel armor, and full CBR protection. The Bradley has a door-and-ramp assembly that opens to the rear so that infantry soldiers can quickly enter. Jeff Schogol is the senior Pentagon reporter for Task & Purpose. A day earlier, after a meeting with ROK Foreign Minister Park Jin, Stoltenberg was more specific about how he believed North Korea was arming Russia. The earliest specification, from 1958, called for a vehicle of no more than 8 tons, mounting a turret with a 20mm autocannon and a 7.62mm machine gun, with sealed firing ports for five infantry gunners. And this just highlights how we are interconnected. The M2 carries a crew of three and a six-man infantry squad. All Rights Reserved |. For engaging heavier targets, such as acting in an anti-tank fashion, the Bradley carries a TOW missile system. [12] The project was canceled,[12] and new specifications were written in 1965. Downloads. In 2010, the Army began the Ground Combat Vehicle program to replace the M2 Bradley. The Bradley is a tracked, medium-armored vehicle armed with a 25-mm gun. Named after General Omar Bradley and developed during the Cold War, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle is still very much a key part of the United States Armed Forces. The upper sides of the vehicle were sloped and spaced steel armor plates were added to improve protection. The M3 CFV was originally planned to be named after General Jacob L. Devers,[17] but it was decided the Bradley name would apply to both, since both vehicles are based on the same chassis. It includes sensors and a software package to quickly detect when components are wearing out, and simulation software so gunners can train more realistically. The GT was the first product sold under the Bradley Automotive name. The Bradley is equipped with the 25mm M242 Bushmaster as its main weapon. Bradley Fighting Vehicles proved their worth in urban environments during the Iraq War. The Bradley has the speed, range, and firepower to help Ukraine retake its territory. The XM701 project had several technical shortcomings. [18], FMC delivered eight XM2 prototypes to the Army beginning in December 1978 and progressing through March 1979. And most of all, we have seen no sign that President Putin has changed his overall goal of this invasion that is to control a neighbor, to control Ukraine. The M242 is a single-barrel chain gun with an integrated dual-feed mechanism and remote feed selection. Bradley M2 / M3 Tracked Armoured Fighting Vehicles, USA. The Bradley is designed to transport infantry or scouts with armor protection, while providing covering fire to suppress enemy troops and armored vehicles. Four ports were removed on the sides of the vehicle on the M2A2A3 versions, and only two in the ramp remain. It shared components with the LVTP-7 rather than the M113. Named after a US general who commanded US troops in World War II, it is operated by a crew of three and, depending on the . The AMPV submission is a turretless Bradley chassis, providing greater cargo space, increased armor, and upgraded engine and electrical systems. The vehicles have been used by the United States military since the 1980s. With promises of arms pouring into Ukraine, Russia laid out what it would constitute a red line for their use. The House Armed Services Committee found that Burton's claims of malfeasance were rather due to "a long-standing fundamental disagreement over testing methodology and, more importantly, the inability of OSD and the Army to reach an agreement on how the test is conducted. Bradley Fighting Vehicles at a U.S. military base in northeastern Syria in 2019. The Army would combine the roles of scout and IFV, as the previous Armored Reconnaissance Scout Vehicle had been canceled. Firing ports for the passengers were added and a M139 20mm cannon was added to the commander's cupola. Additional improvements to vehicle survivability were added to production vehicles by 1988. By 2017, the US Army was exploring reintroducing air defense Bradleys with the reemergence of hostile aerial threats. [9] In 1968, an Army task force headed by Major General George Casey recommended that the service once again pursue the development of an MICV. Our selection of used armored vehicles can fulfill a variety of applications and will ultimately help protect whatever you, your company, your organization, or your government is transporting. Features like bulletproof armor, bulletproof glass, run-flat tires, and more help keep their vehicle more secure and safer from outside threats. They differ in only some details. In the interim, the Army planned upgrades to the M113 that would bridge the gap to the MICV. Additional upgrades included a stronger, 800 horsepower engine, a larger main gun, lighter armor, improved sensors and cameras to give a 360 view outside, and an improved fire extinguisher system. Infantry can fight from inside the vehicle using modified M-16s mounted in firing ports or may dismount from the rear door of the M2 version to fight on foot. M2 infantry Bradleys have firing ports for M231 Firing Port Weapons (FPWs), providing a means for the occupants to fire from within the vehicle and replacing the top-side gunners on the M113-based Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicles, although the M231 is rarely employed. This helps make you, your passengers, and your cargo safer from a variety of threats, including common thieves and more experienced criminals. Mounted next to the Bushmaster is a M240C machine gun, firing 7.62mm rounds. The TOW missiles give the vehicle a strong antiarmor capability. It is named after U.S. General Omar Bradley . It would consist of eight variants, including infantry carriers, scouting vehicles and main battle tanks. [7], The Bradley is highly capable in cross-country open terrain, in accordance with one of the main design objectives of keeping pace with the M1 Abrams main battle tank. BMP-1s and BMP-2s, for example, are lightly armored and have exterior fuel tanks on the rear doors from which troops exit and enter the vehicle, making them vulnerable to ambushes from the rear, he said. The M2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) carries a six-man infantry team, while the M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle (CFV) is basically an armored reconnaissance vehicle carrying a pair of scouts, additional radios, and ammunition. One Bradley expert we spoke with said the vehicle's firepower, maneuverability, and durability are exactly what Ukraine needs as it contemplates further offensives against a foe that still has a sizeable amount of Soviet-era tanks and other armor, as well as its more modern vehicles. In fact, the only noticeable differences between the M2 and the M3 are the missing external M-16 firing ports on the M3. Infantry can fight from inside the vehicle by using modified M-16 rifles mounted in firing ports or may dismount from the M2 version to fight on foot. For more information or to receive a quote on one or more of our used armored cars, contact us today! During World War. ], U.S. Army began efforts to replace the Bradley in the mid-1980s under the Armored Systems Modernization program. [9], We in TRADOC decided to put the TOW on the MICV because we realized that if we did not put the TOW on the MICV, we would probably never have a MICV. Youre able to move them in a relatively secure vehicle to a position of advantage. The Bradley is deployable worldwide and can be transported by truck, rail, ship, and cargo aircraft such as theBoeing C-17 Globemaster III. Russian sources did not report on any Russian ground attacks in Zaporizhia Oblast for the third consecutive day on Jan. 29. In a tweet on Sunday, Podolyak linked Russia's war efforts and the explosion in Iran. Want to write for Task & Purpose? Ukraine should receive 109. The ESV is equipped with standard combat engineering equipment and can employ unique mission equipment packages for obstacle neutralization. What is a Bradley Fighting Vehicle? Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. The Army and Air Force agreed and established the joint live fire testing program in 1984. Some of the most popular uses for used armored vehicles worldwide include: With used armored vehicles from The Armored Group, you, your company, your organization, your agency, or your government can have greater protection while in transit. You can read more about what the Bradley can provide to Ukraine here. Just as with its predecessor, the M113 family, the Bradley will eventually be the platform for a wide range of support vehicles. This effort was canceled in 1992 due to the collapse of the Soviet Union.[40]. The missiles, capable of destroying most tanks to a maximum range of 4,000 metres (13,000ft), can only be fired while the vehicle is stationary. Today, the Bradley comes two basic flavors, the M2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle and the M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle. BAE Systems has acted as the manufacturer and systems integrator of the Bradley program for over 30 years, including . The most recent Bradley Urban Survivability Kit upgrade (BUSK III) heightened safety features. For fuel efficiency, BAE is considered using a hybrid-electric drive, similar to their Ground Combat Vehicle. Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle Sticker By T-Hand141Hmstd From $1.46 M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Sticker By StrongVlad From $1.35 American Bradley Fighting Vehicle - Armed Military Tank Sticker By Matt Ballinger From $2.15 American Bradley Fighting Vehicle - Armed Military Tank Glossy Sticker By Matt Ballinger From $2.12 The scout version became the XM3. Army). An optional Applique configuration provides situational awareness via the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) Applique computer system. [citation needed], The use of aluminum armor and the storage of large quantities of ammunition in the vehicle initially raised questions about its combat survivability. ROK has a large defense industrial base and is becoming a major arms exporter to Europe. During his two-day visit to Israel, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been trying to get the Netanyahu government to provide military support to Ukraine. The ARC Integrity is a roll-on roll-off cargo vessel owned by ARC Shipping and contracted by TRANSCOM. Used armored vehicles from The Armored Group are optimal for numerous purposes around the world. It wa. No versions of the M3 CFV carry firing port weapons. The main gun was replaced with an XM914 30mm autocannon with airburst rounds, and a missile launcher that could accommodate various missiles including the Stinger, AIM-9X Sidewinder, or others. Our support to Ukraine would not be possible without the strong relationships we have with our allies and partners that provided the access, basing, and overflight to facilitate the delivery of aid, she added. The added political advantage was that the TOW missiles made it an easier sell to Congress, as it was a new capability not possessed by the M113. "They are actively acquiring new weapons, more ammunition, ramping up their own production, but also acquiring more weapons from other authoritarian states like Iran and North Korea. ", The Department of Defense, in a press release, wrote that the vehicles will offer Ukraine "a level of firepower and armor that will bring advantages on the battlefield as the Ukrainian military continues to defend their homeland.". The Bradley Fighting VehicleBradley or BFV for shortis the standard infantry fighting vehicle of the U.S. Army and was designed to carry ground troops into combat. [24], As of May 2000, 6,724 Bradleys, 4,641 M2s and 2,083 M3s, had been produced for the U.S. Army. North Korea is providing military support to the Russian war efforts with rockets and missiles, he said. The NGCV program was expanded as a portfolio of next-generation vehicles including tanks and the Bradley-based Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle, a successor to the M113 family. He has covered the military for 15 years. The M2/M3's primary armament is a 25 mm chain gun using either 100 or 300 rounds per minute, accurate to 3,000 m (approximately two miles). The Bradley is designed to transport infantry or scouts with armor protection, while providing covering fire to suppress enemy troops and . As Ukraine gears up for the next months of the conflict, military leaders are hoping Bradley Fighting Vehicles can help retake even more territory, with experts noting they could become a game-changer, potentially even in Crimea. So whether you are simply traveling with your family in a sedan or transporting bullion in a cash-in-transit vehicle, you can have greater assurance that you, your passengers, and cargo will arrive safely with one of the vehicles from our selection of used armored cars. The M919 was used in combat during the 2003 invasion phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. That includes a claim that its Marker unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) will be modified with anti-tank weapons to take on the German-made Leopard 2 and U.S.-made M1A2 Abrams tanks promised to Ukraine. Other nations, like NATO members Germany and Norway as well as Sweden, have waived similar preclusions. Source: Voice of America, citing a high-ranking Pentagon official, as reported by. For the Ukrainians, the Bradleys, which will greatly aid their combined arms maneuver efforts, cant arrive on the battlefield soon enough. Its M242 25mm Bushmaster chain gun fires armor piercing, high explosive munition at 200 rounds per minute and at distances up to 2,000 meters. The training of Ukrainian troops in the U.S. continues, in this case supervised by Canadian soldiers. In the years since, we have continued to deliver high-quality armored cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, and more. Maintenance in UAF [the Armed Forces of Ukraine] is another side of hell, said Parfonov, adding they have a zoo of various kinds of vehicles, making it difficult to find spare parts, Parfonov said. [60][61], For the U.S. Army's Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) program to replace the M113, BAE offered a variant of the Bradley. Speed: 41 mph. The Bradley was initially designed to float by deploying a flotation curtain around the vehicle, allowing it to "swim" at a speed of 4.5mph (7.2km/h). VIPs, law enforcement agencies, governments, and companies around the globe have placed their trust in us at The Armored Group. The tungsten APDS-T rounds proved effective in Desert Storm, capable of knocking out many Iraqi vehicles, including several T-55 tanks. (Staff Sgt. They can be utilized by ordinary citizens as well as corporations and government entities. American Bradley Fighting Vehicle - Armed Military Tank Pullover Sweatshirt By Matt Ballinger $44.86 American Bradley Fighting Vehicle - Armed Military Tank WW2 Lightweight Sweatshirt By Matt Ballinger $43.47 American Bradley Fighting Vehicle - Armed Military Tank Zipped Hoodie By Matt Ballinger $50.37 In the Iraq War, the Bradley proved vulnerable to improvised explosive device and rocket-propelled grenade attacks, but casualties were light with the crew able to escape. The added protection that Bradley Fighting Vehicles provide to their crew and the troops inside would be especially important to the Ukrainians given the size of their forces and how long they have been fighting, Chiarelli told Task & Purpose. [citation needed] In October 1981 the vehicle was named the "Bradley" for World War II Army General Omar Bradley, who had died earlier that year.[20]. ArgentinaBoliviaBrazilChileColombiaPeruPortugalVenezuelaEcuador, GermanyFranceItalyUnited KingdomPolandNetherlandsSwitzerlandHungaryAustriaGreeceCzech RepublicCroatiaEstoniaSlovakiaSloveniaUkraineBosnia & HerzegovinaBulgariaSerbiaRomaniaLatvia, AfghanistanEgyptIraqJordanLebanonPakistanUnited Arab EmiratesYemenSaudi ArabiaTurkeyOmanKuwaitIsraelCyprus, AlgeriaAlgersAngolaBeninCape VerdeChadCote d'IvoireGhanaKenyaLibyaMaliDem. [citation needed], An M240C medium machine gun is mounted coaxially to the M242, with 2,200 rounds of 7.62x51mm ammunition. At the time it was introduced, the Bradley was the first infantry fighting vehicle with a fully-stabilized main gun. It is adequately armored to provide protection against small arms fire and artillery, and able to combat any vehicle on the battlefield using its TOW missiles.[46]. We will update this story if there is anything major to add. The Bradley is a tracked, medium-armoured vehicle armed with a 25mm gun. Some of these Bradleys will be taken from these stocks.[26]. Although plagued by cost overruns and scope creep during development, the M2 Bradley eventually got on track. In Operation Desert Storm, its rumored that more enemy armored vehicles were destroyed by Bradleys than by Abrams tanks. The U.S. Army began the Future Combat Systems (FCS) Manned Ground Vehicles program in 1999. But I will say that several NATO allies - who had as a policy never to export weapons to two countries in conflict - have changed that policy now. Lacking are the six external firing ports present on the M2 Bradley IFV. The cannon carries 300 rounds of ammunition in two ready boxes (one of 70 rounds, the other of 230 rounds), with an extra 600 rounds in storage for the M2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle variant or 1,200 stowed rounds for the M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle variant. Armament: 25 mm M242 chain gun; TOW anti-tank missile; 7.62 mm M240C machine gun. The first batch of a total of 109 Bradleys promised to Ukraine was loaded onto the ARC Integrity roll-on roll-off (RORO) cargo vessel Jan. 25 at the Transportation Core Dock in North Charleston, South Carolina, according to the Defense Departments Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. But as robotic military systems expert Samuel Bendett explains, that may be a baseless boast based on the fact that the Markers have yet to be really tested in a dynamic combat environment. To work in such an environment, an IFV would have to have a life support system that protected from outside contaminants, while allowing the soldiers to fight from inside the vehicle. The Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) is a tracked armoured fighting vehicle platform of the United States developed by FMC Corporation and manufactured by BAE Systems Land & Armaments, formerly United Defense.It is named after U.S. General Omar Bradley.. Newer versions retain the two ramp-mounted firing ports, though plated over. [52], In October 2017, BAE displayed an updated version of the Bradley Linebacker called the M-SHORAD (Mobile Short-Range Air Defense) equipped with a pMHR (portable multi-mission hemispheric radar) search radar mounted around the turret, a fire-control radar, and a jammer on top of the turret to non-kinetically defeat unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The $2.8 billion package, the latest U.S. effort to bolster Ukraine's defense efforts amid the Russian invasion that began in February 2022, will include 50 of the Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Reuters reported last week. Valued at $49.7 million, the contract is projected to be completed by Aug 23, 2023. Plaintiffs claim the earplugs were defective, causing them hearing loss and tinnitus. The M3 mainly conducts scout missions and carries two scout troopers in addition to the regular crew of three, with space for additional BGM-71 TOW missiles. But U.S. officials said they believed this strike was prompted by Israels concerns about its own security, not the potential for missile exports to Russia.". I urge the Republic of Korea to continue and to step up on on the specific issue of military support to Ukraine, Jens Stoltenberg told reporters Monday at the CHEY Institute during his visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK). Not only have the Ukrainians already received several other types of fighting vehicles such as American M113 Gavins, British FV103 Spartans, and French VABs but the Ukrainians also use captured Russian vehicles, such as BMP-3s. (U.S. Transportation Command photo by Oz Suguitan), Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, as part of a $2.85 billion Presidential Drawndown Authorization, the Pentagon announced that 59 additional M2A2-ODS, already undergoing maneuver warfare training, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters, Institute for the Study of War assessment, provided 155mm howitzer shells to the U.S. Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensives in the vicinity of Kuzemivka (about 10 miles northwest of Svatove). The participation of military personnel, the use of airfields on the territory of NATO countries, or attempts to establish a no-fly zone over part or all of Ukraine, would mean the direct involvement of the North Atlantic Alliance in the conflict, Kortunov told TASS. The Army's Bradley replacement effort was restarted under the Future Fighting Vehicle (FFV) program. In May 2015, General Dynamics and BAE Systems, the two prime contractors involved with the GCV, were awarded contracts to develop design concepts for the FFV.