M3 Bradley

M3 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicle
Two M3 Bradleys in the Persian Gulf War
Type	Infantry fighting vehicle/Reconnaissance
Place of origin	United States of America
Service history
Wars	Persian Gulf War Iraq War
Production history
Designer	FMC Corporation (M3(A0), M3A1), United Defense (M3A2, M3A3)
Specifications
Weight	25–30.5 short tons (23–28 tonnes)
Length	21.2–21.5 ft (6.45–6.55 m)
Width	126–129 in (320–328 cm)
Height	117 in (297 cm)
Crew	3 + 2 passengers
Armor	Steel, 5083 and 7039 aluminum
Main armament	25 mm M242 Chain Gun 1500 rounds (300 ready) Dual TOW Anti-Tank Missile Launcher 12 rounds (2 in launcher)
Secondary armament	7.62 mm M240C machine gun
Engine	Cummins VTA-903
Transmission	General Electric HMPT-500
Ground clearance	18 in (46 cm)
Fuel capacity	175–197 gal (662–746 L)
Operational range	Road: 250–300 mi (400–480 km)
Speed	Top road speed: 35–41 mph (56–66 km/h) Top water speed: 4–4.5 mph (6.4–7.2 km/h)

The M3 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicle (CFV) is an American tracked armored reconnaissance vehicle manufactured by BAE Systems Land and Armaments (formerly United Defense) based on the Bradley Fighting Vehicle family. The M3 CFV is used by heavy armored cavalry units in the U.S. Army.

The M3 Bradley CFV is very similar to the M2 Bradley IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) and is fielded with the same two-man 25mm Bushmaster Cannon turret with a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. It only varies from the M2 in a few subtle ways and by role. The M3 is classified as an armored reconnaissance and scout vehicle and does away with the firing ports found in the M2 series. The M3 also carries more TOW missiles as well as more ammunition for its 25mm and 7.62mm guns.

The Bradley family as a whole was originally intended to support the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), but ended up replacing it altogether. Today, the Bradley is fielded in conjunction with the M1 Abrams series of main battle tanks and often accompanies infantry squads into combat. In the 1991 Persian Gulf War, Bradleys and their 25mm cannon / TOW anti-tank missile combination destroyed more enemy tanks than the M1 Abrams. Only three Bradleys were lost to enemy fire, however, at least 17 were lost to friendly fire. Improvements to the Bradley family have included enhanced identification features, as well as anti-tank missile countermeasures (for first generation wire-guided missiles only) and improved armor protection in the form of ERA.

It was the U.S. Army's intention that the BCT Ground Combat Vehicle Program will replace the M2 Bradley and M113 with the GCV Infantry Fighting Vehicle by 2018, while the M3 Bradley could later be replaced by future variants of the GCV. The GCV project was eventually cancelled in early-2014.