JANUARY 16, 2025 – The Bradley Fighting Vehicle has proved itself to be lethal and survivable in multiple theaters since first fielded in the 1980s.
Armed with a 25mm chain-driven autocannon, a 7.62 mm machine gun, and twin Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missiles, the Bradley has accompanied American troops in multiple theaters.
In ensuing years, the threat faced by American Soldiers has mutated, but the Bradley has remained viable and relevant thanks to Army modernization efforts and extensive testing of all upgrades at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG). Recently, YPG personnel conducted a production qualification test on the Vehicle Protection System Base Kit (VBK), which utilizes sensors on the corners of the turret to provide 360 degrees of detection for incoming laser threats. If the system detects an adversary is lazing the vehicle, the vehicle’s commander can immediately slew the Commander’s Independent Viewer (CIV) in the turret to the area the laser originated from.
“It has an audio warning that notifies the crew when a laser is detected and visually show you where the laser is originating from,” said Alan Vega, test officer. “The Soldier is able to decide whether to attack or do some kind of evasive maneuver in response to the threat.”
During testing, simulated missions took the Bradley 6,500 miles across YPG road courses featuring various terrain conditions, from paved to gravel to punishing desert washboard that would severely rattle less robust vehicles. As they traversed these roads, test vehicle operators continually verified performance.
“We’re looking for any kind of system fault during the performance test and while running miles,” said Vega. “The system is on throughout the whole time it is running miles to see whether heat or operating the system for multiple hours while running the courses causes any issues.”
YPG has the range space to conduct live fire tests of the vehicle from both stationary and moving positions while lazing. YPG’s wide variety of desert terrain features allowed for testing the VBK’s detection abilities from challenging angles such as on a mountainside.
“It’s very complex angles of arrival that we are doing, using between class one and class four lasers,” said Vega. “Wherever the incoming lasers are coming from, it will be picked up by one of the sensors.”
The evaluations culminated in a four-week event where Soldiers conducted operational assessment testing across YPG’s vast ranges.
“The VBK gives a Bradley crew a whole another level of protection,” said Tracy Haifley, test officer. “A system like this to help crews make instant decisions is a huge step forward.”
Story by Mark Schauer
U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground