A video released by Reuters shows a batch of Bradley armored fighting vehicles, dubbed “tank killers,” arriving in Germany, where the Ukrainian military is training to use them on the battlefield.

Also in the video you can see mobile air defense complexes “Avenger”, an American self-propelled weapon that provides short-range protection, and M88 repair vehicles, one of the largest armored vehicles in service with the US armed forces.

The Bradley Fighting Vehicles were loaded onto the military cargo ship ARC Integrity in North Charleston, South Carolina, for shipment to Germany before arriving at the front line in Ukraine.

It is not known whether this batch of armored vehicles will go immediately to Ukraine, or will remain in Germany for some time to train the Ukrainian military.

Several officials in Washington have told American media since early January that the United States plans to send such armored combat vehicles to the Ukrainian armed forces as part of a new military aid package prepared by the administration of President Joe Biden.

The White House and the Pentagon then confirmed the information, saying that new American aid to Ukraine would amount to $3 billion.

A video that appeared on social networks in mid-January showed that the Ukrainian military had already begun training on Bradley equipment. The Bradley M2A2 ODS vehicle could be seen on footage of Ukrainian military training in Germany – an improved version of the original combat vehicle, which began to be produced in 1981.

Why Bradley cars are considered “tank killers”

Modernized M2A2 Bradley ODS vehicles took part in Operation Desert Storm, the American intervention in the Persian Gulf war launched by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in August 1990. These are also the models that the USA sent to Ukraine.

General Mark Hertling, the former commander of US forces in Europe, called these vehicles a potential “tank killer” and sending them to Ukraine a “great idea” even before it was officially confirmed by the administration of President Joe Biden.

“As I said a few days ago, I was commanded by Brad (Bradley) in Desert Storm. The Brad (or BMP/CFV) is NOT a tank, but it can be a tank killer… and a vehicle. (BMP = Infantry Fighting Vehicle, CFV = Mechanized Infantry Fighting Vehicle),” he said on his Twitter page on January 5.

He explained that the M2A2 Bradley vehicles have two TOW anti-tank missiles mounted on the turret, a 25 mm Bushmaster automatic cannon, and a 7.62 mm twin machine gun, all of which are effective at long ranges.

“It was a great car. We effectively hit Iraqi tanks, armored personnel carriers and other targets. Even though it’s a tracked vehicle, it doesn’t have too many complex engine and turret issues. Good gas mileage, a top speed of about 65 kilometers per hour over rough terrain, minimal maintenance, reliable protection and firepower,” he praised American-made cars.

“The Bradley is not a tank, but a tank killer,” Pentagon spokesman General Ryder said last month. “We think that this will greatly help (Ukrainian forces) on the battlefield,” he emphasized.

Later, President Joe Biden announced that his administration had also approved the shipment of 31 American-made Abrams tanks to Ukraine.

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