M7 Bradley Fire Support Team (BFIST)
The M7 Bradley Fire Support Team (BFIST) Vehicle provides an integrated Bradley-based fire support platform, based on the M2A2 ODS vehicle, that enables company fire support teams (FISTs) and company fire support officers to plan, coordinate and execute timely, accurate indirect artillery and mortar fires.
The M7 BFIST is equipped with an inertial navigation system, targeting station and lightweight computer units with the forward observer system (FOS), all integrated on a 1553 data bus. These features provide the crew with a highly accurate point-and-click targeting capability, stationary or while on the move, day or night, under all weather conditions. The M7 BFIST is also armed with a 25 mm automatic cannon and a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun common to the Bradley fighting vehicle family. Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) was fielded to M7 BFIST in FY 2003.
The M7 Bradley FIST is designed to replace existing forward observation vehicles in the U.S. Army inventory, and adds an inertial navigation system and a new targeting station control panel. A mission-processor unit automates the fire-request system. BFIST gives the FIST the same mobility, signature and survivability as that of the supported maneuver units. Additionally, BFIST can observe indirect fire while on the move and employ direct fire systems that can make a difference not only in self-protection, but also in supporting the maneuver force.
BFIST is a point-and-shoot and point-and-lase system for fire supporters. Its features are dramatic improvements over the FIST-V and equate to new capabilities to derive accurate target location at the push of a button--no targeting head to erect, no initialization of targeting systems each time you stop, no additional night sight to install and no challenge getting the ten-digit grid into the digital system.
M7 Bradley Fire Support Team (BFIST)
M6 Bradley Linebacker
The M6 Bradley Linebacker is the Army’s only slew-to-cue Stinger missile shortrange air defense platform. The Linebacker is equipped with a standard vehicle mounted launcher (SVML) and associated electronics and a digital link to ground-based radar. Track data and command and control information are integrated through the forward area air defense (FAAD) command and control system. In addition to the Stinger, the Bradley Linebacker is also armed with a 25 mm automatic cannon and a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun common to the Bradley fighting vehicle. The weapon system includes a Mode 4 identification, friend or foe (IFF) sensor capable of positive identification of friendly aircraft. The Linebacker weapons are controlled from under armor and can acquire and engage targets while on the move, day or night.
The M6 Bradley Linebacker An air defense variant, these vehicles are modified M2A2 ODSs with the TOW missile system replaced with a four-tube Stinger missile system. Despite the fact that the vehicle is superior to the Bradley Stinger FV (the crew does not have to dismount and can fire on the move) and the M1097 Humvee Avenger (since it is tracked and armored) these are due to be retired from U.S. service.
Combat engineer battalions in Army heavy divisions have historically traveled the battlefield in the venerable M113 personnel carrier. The M113 was the workhorse of the Army for decades and provided indirect fire protection for the soldiers assigned to ride in it and excellent cross-country mobility. The drawback to the M113 was that it could not provide sustained direct fire support nor could it maneuver with current infantry and armor weapon systems on today’s modern battlefield. In 2000, the Army made the decision to field the M2A2 ODS Engineer (ODS-E) Vehicle, which is the same as the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle variant except for the stowing of engineer-specific equipment.
The M6 Bradley Linebacker With the advent of the M2A2 ODS engineer vehicle, the combat engineers now have the capability to maneuver with the infantry and armor combat systems and provide direct fire support to dismounted engineer soldiers from their own platform. The engineers will also have the onboard
Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) system that ties the engineers into the common digital picture and provides them real-time situational awareness and command and control. With the
ODS-E and FBCB2, the combat engineers are able to provide even more combat power. It has been fielded to elements of III Corps at Fort Hood, Texas.
M6 Bradley Linebacker
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