In the U.S. Land Army officials to supply over 62 armored combat vehicles

Military leadership aims to add to its potential modern and powerful TOMA Bradley M2A2 in order to replace aging M-113 A1 in at least two Armoured Brigades of the Fourth Corps in Evros. That is why Land Army officials have gone to the US and have inspected the 62 Bradleys, which are granted free of charge to Greece through the EDA program, the effort focuses at first stage on obtaining at least 20 more. In the first phase, the aim is to complete the required number of Armoured Combat Vehicles required to replace the M-113 A1 two Motor Battalions, belonging to respective Armoured Brigades. “We’re not going to stay at 62 Bradley” pointed out emphaticly high military sources – as he had already revealed since last January the Onalert.gr – as apparently the messages received from the US were encouraging to grant extra TOMA. And as this program is at the top positions of the armament priorities, the pressure is escalated towards Washington in order for the first batch of Bradley to reach Greece to consist of at least 80 Bradley. Design for Regular Bands The first positive message received by the Military Staff was that the Bradleys, which inspected the GSC’s Commands, were the modernized M2A2, which were from the beginning in the target rather than the original M2A0 version with much more limited capabilities. Furthermore, it was found that hundreds more Bradley M2A2 are in the U.S. Army reserves and can therefore be gradually acquired in the coming years. In order to replace as many Armoured Personnel Transport Vehicles as possible M-113A1, with priority in the units of the first line of the Fourth Army Corps in Evros. The goal of the Hellenic Army and the GNS is Bradley M2A2 to become the basic TOMA of the Land Army in the coming years, as the capabilities of the American Armoured fully meet the operational requirements. The new operational design also provides for the formation of regular bands, both in Armored and Motor Brigades. The Tactical Bands will consist respectively of two tanks Ells and a Motor Infantry Company in the TH Brigades and one tanks Ell and two Motor Company in the MX Brigades. In both cases, the use of Bradley M2A2 TOMPs in place M-113A1 changes the data and ejects the operational capabilities of Regular Groups. The operational capabilities of Bradley and especially the M2A2 version fully meet the needs of the Land Army, as they give speed, flexibility, fire power and armor especially next to the modern Leopard 2 tanks of the Fourth Army Corps. Thanks to the very powerful 600 horsepower engine, Bradley can follow Leopard 2, carry motor infantry and support them with the M242 25mm gun, anti-tank TOWs and the 7.62mm conjugate machine gun. While carrying a six-man group of soldiers with a full battle load, which will be protected from strong armor against ammunition up to 30mm. At the given time with the priorisation of equipment needs, there is no question of purchasing new TOMAs. By Kostas Sarika / Source: onalert.gr