President Joe Biden and the Pentagon confirmed that the U.S. will send 50 Bradley armored vehicles to aid Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.
“So, let me highlight some of the capabilities included in this package. First, as President Biden announced yesterday, we are committing 50 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, with 500 TOW anti-tank missiles and 250,000 rounds of 25 millimeter ammunition,” Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Laura K. Cooper said in a press conference last week.
“The Bradley vehicles will further enhance Ukraine’s ability to conduct complex maneuvers in almost all weather conditions and terrain, especially in the south and the east of the country,” Cooper continued. “The Bradley is a tracked armored vehicle that is agile, provides mounted firepower, and is a significant anti-armor capability. This complements a series of armor commitments by the United States and our allies.”
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The Bradley vehicles are the first new major piece of military equipment being sent to Ukraine since the US Patriot aerial defense missiles were announced as military aid to Ukraine during Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Washington visit. The Patriot system was a new addition to the Ukrainians and is a highly advanced and complex system.
According to CNN, the U.S. has provided other armored vehicles to Ukraine in the past, including Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and armored utility vehicles. The US also paid for the refurbishment of Soviet-era T-72 tanks used in Ukraine.
