On June 9 Russian arms producer Kalashnikov launched a video displaying the Vikhr air launched missile destroying an M2 Bradley combating car operated by the Ukrainian Army in Jap Ukraine. The footage was launched as different footage confirmed Bradleys and German Leopard 2A6 tanks, which characterize probably the most succesful armoured warfare property of each sorts which Ukraine at the moment fields, being destroyed in Jap Ukraine – reportedly close to the city of Malaya Tokmachka. Kalshnikov reported relating to the footage: “The primary-ever documented destruction of U.S.-made Bradley M2A2 combating car, by the guided missile Vikhr-1, passed off within the Orekhovo space as a part of the particular army operation.” The missile class was developed to strike armoured and manoeuvrable floor targets, together with these utilizing superior reactive armour, but additionally retains the potential to strike helicopters and decrease flying plane. In line with Klashnikov, its product can penetrate 750mm of armour.
The U.S. has donated 113 M2A2-ODS Bradley combating autos to Ukraine, with losses in latest days reported to be within the dozens. The autos first entered service in 1981, concluded manufacturing 28 years in the past in 1995, and are every outfitted with 25mm weapons and anti tank missiles as their main armaments. The Bradley’s design has for many years been topic of controversy as a result of limitations of its armour safety, as demonstrated each throughout testing and within the Iraq Battle with the latter seeing effectively over 100 destroyed based on a number of reviews. The car was designed to be able to going face to face with decrease finish Soviet tanks reminiscent of T-55s, and reportedly proved efficient in such roles throughout the Gulf Battle, though its survivability on twenty first century battlefields in opposition to a serious state adversary reminiscent of Russia stays in severe query. Russia has notably deployed Ka-52 Alligator assault helicopters in important numbers for anti armour missions utilizing the Vikhr, though whether or not the missile stays as succesful a Kalashnikov has claimed stays unsure for the reason that Bradley’s armour safety may be very considerably poorer than that of principal battle tanks which the missile was designed to have the ability to penetrate.
