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Putin Won’t Be Happy: Ukraine Is Getting Infantry Fighting Vehicles to Fight Russia

M2 Bradley. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
M2 Bradley

Last week, the United States announced that it will send fifty M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine. France and Germany will also send a number of infantry fighting vehicles to aid Kyiv’s war effort. France had agreed to send a number of its AMX-10 RC armored fighting vehicles, while Germany has pledged to provide its Marder IFV. Berlin will deliver around 40 of the vehicles in the coming weeks.

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The three platforms all date to the Cold War, but their incorporation could help Ukraine’s military to operate much more like a NATO armored unit and less like a Russian armored force. The vehicles would allow Ukrainian infantry to travel alongside main battle tanks, which could be crucial when Kyiv launches its next counteroffensive.

“The U.S. Bradley, German Marder, and French AMX vehicles pledged are a significant departure from the practice of sending only Soviet-type IFVs,” explained James Marques, associate aerospace, defense, and security analyst at international analytics firm GlobalData.

“Whilst Ukraine’s ultimate goal in materiel aid likely remains fully fledged main battle tanks, these new deliveries will be cause for optimism and a valued addition to the Ukrainian military,” Marques told 19FortyFive via an email. “They will provide enhanced firepower against Russian armor, and crucially protect infantry from ever-present artillery, which is essential to enabling future maneuvers to break the current stalemate.”

The Bradley is especially noteworthy. The U.S. has thousands in reserve, and it proved to be a highly capable platform. In the 1991 Gulf War, it destroyed more Iraqi tanks than the M1 Abrams

For its part, the AMX-10 RC has been employed with French cavalry units since the early 1980s. The wheeled tank destroyer is armed with a 105mm F2 BK MECA L47 main gun. It has been deployed in a reconnaissance role in contested environments, as well as for fire support.

“Using such a wide array of systems from all over the Western coalition carries logistical difficulties, but Ukrainians have proven adaptable and fast learners, as the added delivery of Sea Sparrow missiles proves,” Marques continued. “The weapons were originally intended for naval use but are being adapted for land deployment aboard Soviet-era launchers. These weapons are valuable elements for a larger air defense network, able to intercept aircraft or cruise missiles at low altitudes and short range should other systems fail.”

Even as Kyiv hopes to soon receive these Western armored vehicles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to call for MBTs. The fact that three NATO nations have agreed to supply platforms like this suggests that Zelensky’s wishes could be fulfilled sooner than later.

“As we have seen over the course of the war, milestones in aid, such as these new vehicles, often pave the way for further deliveries of more powerful capabilities at scale,” Marques noted. “As Russia continues to falter, Western officials may sense an opportunity for Ukraine to seize further initiative in the coming months – a palpable goal that may have ended their hesitation to send such weapons. GlobalData projects the value of the land vehicles market to grow at a rate of 4.1% to $27.6 billion by 2032.”

None of this is likely going to make the Kremlin happy.

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Author Experience and Expertise: A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.

Written By

Expert Biography: A Senior Editor for 1945, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,000 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.

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