U.S. Army deploys first Bradley vehicles with Iron Fist protection

The U.S. Army has deployed its first M2A4E1 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles equipped with the ‘Iron Fist’ active protection system. These vehicles, part of the 1st Cavalry Division’s 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, were delivered to the 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas.

Developed by Israel’s Elbit Systems, the Iron Fist is a hard-kill active protection system designed to intercept and neutralize incoming threats, such as anti-tank missiles and FPV drones, before they impact the vehicle. This represents a shift from relying solely on passive or reactive armor.

In addition to the M2A4E1, the Army received M7A4E1 variants for artillery reconnaissance, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment. These modernized vehicles feature upgraded 675-horsepower engines, improved electro-optics, auxiliary power units, and jammers to counter remotely detonated improvised explosive devices.