Photo By Sgt. Calab Franklin | Troopers assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat...... read more read more
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Story by: Sgt. Calab Franklin. 1CD, 3ABCT, PA NCOIC
FORT HOOD, TEXAS – First Team Infantrymen test two new versions of the Bradly Fighting Vehicle (BFV), Fort Hood, Texas, Oct. 24, 2020.
Troopers of 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment (1-12 CAV), 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team (3ABCT), 1st Cavalry Division, spent several nights in the field getting to know the new the M2A4 and M7A4 Bradley versions.
Linking up with test officers of the U.S. Army Operational Test Command (OTC) during a series of maneuvers and simulated force-on-force engagements, few Soldiers have had the chance to see the new machines in person, let alone get behind the wheel and test them.
Capt. Ian Schultz, Chosen Company Commander, 1-12 CAV, led his Troopers through the testing.
“Training and testing on the M2A4 and M7A4 placed our Troopers on the leading edge of technological innovation for maneuver warfare,” said Schultz.
“Our Troopers got to experience first-hand the next iteration of the infantry fighting vehicles under tough and realistic conditions that not only stressed and improved our systems and training, but stressed the capabilities of the M2A4 and M7A4.”
During the testing, OTC data collectors were on the ground with the Soldiers every step of the way gathering information that will later be used to analyze the overall capabilities of the vehicle in a report to senior Army leaders.
“The information generated through the operational test provided the Program Manager valuable information that will influence the production platform,” said Schultz.
“The data generated through the test will shape the U.S. Army’s recommendation and requirements for final production standards on the M2A4 and M7A4.”
Testing is a collaboration between multiple Army organizations and took years of planning and preparation prior to execution.
“Although these organizations have different specific missions related to the evaluation, all of us worked together to ensure we maintained Trooper safety, gathered relevant test data, and accomplished unit mission essential training to build lethal platoons and a killer company,” said Schultz.
Shultz also added his Troopers emerged every day better than they were the day before.
Clifford J. Kummer, OTC’s Bradley senior test manager, took oversight of the testing and ensured training was conducted smoothly.
“We test everything that the Army fields to the Soldiers,” said Kummer. “It brings — to the Soldier — a new level of modernization; increasing the warfighters’ capabilities to operate on the next battlefield.”
The new BFV variants offer a number of upgrades and overhauls. The idea behind the vehicle is to provide a faster, more durable, and survivable platform with increased oversight; according to Kummer, giving more power to the Troopers at the platoon and squad level to ensure success during large-scale ground combat operations.
“It is the hardware upgrade for the Bradly,” Kummer said. “The engine and transmission were upgraded, the mission command suite was upgraded, and the driver’s vision was upgraded with a new thermal device.”
These primary features are the highlights of the new infantry fighting vehicle and current reason for an operational test. Once the data is collected, OTC will compile and analyze what went right and what did not.
Kummer stated, the review of tactics, doctrine, and applicability in accordance with Army development and all the data is reportable to congress.
He ended by stating OTC will use information provided by the Soldiers and data collectors during the test to decide what needs to be changed and what should stay the same.
| Date Taken: | 10.24.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 10.29.2020 11:34 |
| Story ID: | 382000 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 303 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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Bradley Fighting Vehicle System (BFVS)
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