Ukraine Faces Challenge of Replacing Obsolete Bradley Components

The U.S. Army is looking for companies capable of supplying hard-to-find and obsolete components for M2A2 ODS-SA Bradley fighting vehicles being provided to Ukraine as part of U.S. military assistance.

The notice was issued by the U.S. Army Contracting Command at Detroit Arsenal.

The M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle is designed to transport infantry on the battlefield. Its 25mm M242 Bushmaster cannon can penetrate most Russian armored vehicles and fire either single rounds or bursts at a rate of up to 500 rounds per minute.

The initiative is currently a market survey aimed at identifying potential suppliers and assessing their technical capabilities.

The U.S. Army is particularly interested in components that have become difficult to source due to an aging industrial base and the discontinuation of production by some suppliers. Potential contractors must either have immediate access to these parts or have a realistic plan to resume their production or manufacture replacements.

The list includes a turret drive control unit, a transmission control module, a heater mount, ammunition chutes, hexagonal components of the lower bolt assembly of the TAS system, Dialight Corp. lens lights, as well as other specialized structural, electrical, and mechanical subsystems of the M2A2 ODS-SA.

The challenge of securing these components is directly linked to the requirement to rapidly restore Bradley vehicles to a Fully Mission Capable + Safety condition. Following refurbishment, the vehicles must be ready for delivery to Ukraine, while their subsequent sustainment must be ensured without delays caused by shortages of spare parts.

The potential contractor must also be capable of repairing and technically validating Bradley vehicles, managing the supply chain, and sourcing specialized parts. A key requirement is the ability to quickly restart production of components that are no longer manufactured by the original suppliers.

The U.S. also plans to have the contractor train Ukrainian military mechanics. This will include developing training courses, curricula, and manuals, as well as providing the necessary equipment and tools.

The planned work will also include training Ukrainian mechanics to operate and maintain the armored recovery vehicle.

The U.S. Army is asking potential contractors to provide a detailed plan for achieving full operational capability and to specify the timeline from contract award to delivery of the first refurbished vehicle.

The U.S. Army also emphasizes that the notice is not a solicitation for bids and does not imply that a contract will automatically be awarded. Its purpose is to identify companies capable of providing the repairs, component supply, and sustainment support for Bradley vehicles needed for Ukraine’s defense.

At the 2026 Michigan Defense Expo in Detroit, the U.S. Army showcased infantry fighting vehicle concepts competing in the XM30 program to replace the Bradley.