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American-supplied Bradley fighting vehicles are beginning to receive a distinctive Ukrainian colour scheme, which may be a new indication that they will soon be involved in combat operations. Photos have emerged showing that at least one Bradley infantry fighting vehicle has a distinctive Ukrainian pixelated “digital” camouflage, while the other has a generic green colour scheme.
Read also: Weapons of Ukrainian Victory: M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle
The official Twitter account of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine today posted a photo showing both Bradley infantry fighting vehicles with new paint schemes. “Bradley infantry fighting vehicles trying on a new outfit,” the caption reads.
Another photo showing an M2 with digital camouflage on a trailer is also circulating online. The image is of very low quality and it is unclear whether this is the same Bradley as the one in the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence tweet.
Camouflage schemes with pixelated areas of different green, brown and black colours on a green base coat have been common on Ukrainian armoured and unarmoured vehicles for many years. Other vehicles that the Ukrainian military has received as aid since Russia launched a full-scale war against the country in February 2022 also feature pixelated paint schemes. Many captured Russian vehicles have also been repainted in the same manner. Cases have been reported of members of the Russian armed forces repainting their own vehicles to confuse their opponents.
Bradley IFVs try on a new outfit. pic.twitter.com/OzMAF2d5tV
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 17, 2023
It is currently unknown where and when both photos were taken. In both pictures, it is noticeable that the vehicles do not have the barrels for the M242 Bushmaster 25mm automatic cannons in their turrets. These are usually removed before repainting or long-distance transport in conditions where there is little or no risk of immediate combat.
To date, the US military has promised to provide Ukraine with a total of 109 M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. The US authorities also plan to deliver four M7 Bradley Fire Support Team (BFIST) vehicles, a specialised version optimised for fire support.
https://twitter.com/front_ukrainian/status/1647894752509980672?s=20
It remains unclear whether the Bradleys have arrived in Ukraine, and if so, whether they have been officially adopted. The US military has been training Ukrainian personnel to operate and maintain Bradleys at the Grafenwoehr training ground in Germany since at least February this year. In the same month, the commercial cargo ship ARC Integrity arrived in that country, carrying more than 60 Bradleys that will eventually be sent to Ukraine.
When the Bradleys finally arrive on the battlefield, they are expected to be a significant help to Ukrainian forces. While the M2A2-OSD-SA variants that the US military is providing to the Ukrainian military are not the most advanced versions of the Bradley, they still offer impressive firepower, including TOW anti-tank missiles and a 25mm automatic cannon.
The Bradley also has more advanced night vision and thermal imaging optics than the Soviet-era armoured vehicles currently in service in Ukraine, giving it important additional capabilities to search for and destroy enemy forces and serve as a reconnaissance vehicle. The BFIST variant has an even more robust sensor suite instead of the TOW launcher.
Pixel camo: many Ukrainian Vehicles have it and they come in many forms and colors.
Sometimes it was applied quickly sometimes they applied it more carefully: pic.twitter.com/TK7bCiFCmX— Elmustek (@elmustek) April 3, 2023
All of this, of course, comes at a time when the Ukrainian military is reportedly preparing for new large-scale offensives in the eastern and southern parts of the country. Additional supplies of more modern heavy armoured vehicles are generally considered to be one of the factors that could be key to the success of these operations. Since the beginning of the year, the United States and other countries have pledged to supply Ukrainian forces with more armoured vehicles, including several types of Western main battle tanks. German-made Leopard 2 tanks have already begun arriving in the country.
The emergence of photographs showing newly painted Bradleys, including at least one in the distinctive Ukrainian pixel camouflage, indicates that these vehicles are on their way to taking part in combat, if they have not already.
Read alsо: Weapons of Ukrainian Victory: Stryker armored personnel carrier