BAE Systems has been awarded a $269 million contract modification by the U.S. Army for Bradley production. Work under the contract will continue through March 31, 2021. The Army is using fiscal year 2018 funding to support this contract.
The Army currently has two Bradley upgrade efforts underway. The first is Engineering Change Proposal 1 (ECP1), which improves the Bradley’s suspension. A second ECP, now referred to as the A4 upgrade, improves the powertrain and electrical systems, enabling the vehicle to host technologies such as handheld manpack small form fit radios and Joint Battle Command-Platform. These two upgrades bring the previous M2A3 and M7 vehicles up to the M2A4 and M7A4 configuration.
The FY20 budget request contains $638.8 million for ECP1 and A4 kits, but the budget plan reduced program funding by $890 million between FY20 and FY23. The Army will buy an additional five brigade sets of upgraded A4 vehicles before winding down the program in 2023 to make way for the Next Generation Combat Vehicle. Prior to the release of the FY20 budget request, the Army had already terminated a planned A5 lethality upgrade for the Bradley in order to free up funding for the NGCV.
Shaun's deep-rooted interest in military equipment continues in his role as a senior defense analyst with a focus on the United States. He played an integral role in the development of Forecast International's U.S. Defense Budget Forecast, an interactive online product that tracks Pentagon acquisition programs throughout the congressional budget process. As editor of International Military Markets – North America, Shaun has cultivated a deep understanding of the vast defense markets in the United States and Canada. He is a regular contributor to Forecast International's Defense & Security Monitor blog and has co-authored white papers on global defense spending and various military programs.
