Lebanese Army receives first 8 M2A2 ODS Bradley

The Lebanese Army officially received today the first 8 of 32 planned M2A2 ODS Bradley during a ceremony at Beirut Port (Ref). The vehicles were offered as excess defense articles and were under discussion for a while now (Ref).

Along to the M2 Bradley, 10 M992 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle were also delivered. These will be complemented later with 28 more M992A2 (Ref) and up to 74 M109A5 Howitzers (Read more).

This is a big milestone for the Lebanese Army which has been attempting to increase its IFV fleet which consists of only 16 AIFV-B-C25 previously acquired from Belgium (Read more). For years the acquiring M2 Bradley seemed out of question.

It is unclear which units will be operating these vehicles at the moment, and it is unlikely to field them shortly in the expected battle against ISIS on the eastern borders.

Photo Credits: Lebanese Armed Forces (Source)

Update:
On the same day, BAE Systems was awarded a $8.9 million technical support and sustainment contract for the Bradley vehicles.

BAE Systems Land and Armaments L.P., San Jose, California, has been awarded an $8,982,981 modification (P00046) to foreign military sales (Lebanon) contract W56HZV-15-C-0099 for system technical support and sustainment system technical support for the Bradley family of vehicles. Work will be performed in San Jose, California, with an estimated completion date of July 8, 2020. Fiscal 2017 foreign military sales funds in the amount of $8,982,981 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1279412/
 
This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)

Lebanon's expected 32 M2 Bradley IFVs will be A2 ODS

As previously reported, the Lebanese Army is expecting 32 M2 Bradley IFVs. As an update, based on information during US House hearing session held in February 2016, it is confirmed that the variant will be the M2A2 ODS.

Finally, Army is analyzing proposals to transfer 32 M2A2 ODS 
Bradley Fighting Vehicles (BFV) and 12 OH-58D Kiowa Helicopters to 
Lebanon via the Counter-terrorism Partnership Fund (CTPF) by Fiscal 
Year 2017. 
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-114hhrg22432/html/CHRG-114hhrg22432.htm

This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)

Lebanese Army expects 32 M2 Bradley IFV

According to Al-Hayat newspaper quoting Aram Nerguizian, a senior analyst at CSIS, the Lebanese Army is expecting 32 M2 Bradley IFV. No more details are provided on the variant and expected delivery time.

Aram Nerguizian is known to be very reliable regarding topics of Lebanese Army. On the other hand, in a previous article we covered the possibility of M2 Bradley deliveries given a statement regarding "new APCs" by the LAF commander.

It's great to see this possibility getting more of a reality. The M2 Bradley will have great role fighting on the Syrian borders.

This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)

Has the time for LAF M2 Bradley arrived?

The Al-Akhbar Lebanese newspaper quoted the new LAF commander Gen. Joseph Aoun referring to upcoming US arms deliveries: "US assistance consisting of shells, missiles, new APCs, and artillery will arrive soon". (Ref)

The most common APC operated by the Lebanese Army is the M113 with more than 1,300 vehicles of different variants & derivatives acquired from difference sources. Lebanon has been receiving this APC for years with 200 more delivered in 2013 and 30 in 2015.

Lebanon does not however operate the M113A3 Gavin, which could be considered "new" APC by the LAF standard, yet, does Lebanon need more basic APCs? Isn't Lebanon looking for better armored and more lethal vehicles? Isn't Lebanon looking for IFV not APC?

The, derived, answer is yes, Lebanon needs and is looking for IFVs, we can conclude this from two main events.

The Belgian Deal 2009
Lebanon had a one of a kind opportunity to procure ex-Belgium AIFV-B-C25 from Belgium at ~56,000 EUR per vehicle including spare parts and ammunition (Ref).  Lebanon took this opportunity and acquired 16 vehicles which were later combat proven during battles with ISIS and JAN.

DONAS
The DONAS agreement (status unknown, but most likely cancelled) is another opportunity where Lebanon tried to acquire IFVs. The deal included VAB infantry combat vehicle (ICV) variant (ref). 

Besides these two, the LAF has been attempting to upgrade the armor & protection of its M113. We have seen variants being exhibited or in operations with cage & locally made cupola shields that is completed closed.

Back to what the commander mentioned; should we conclude that he actually meant IFVs, not, yet, just another number of M113 APCs? If so, is it the M2 Bradley given than IAV Stryker is not a vehicle being phased out?  Until further information, let's keep our hopes for the M2 Bradley.

This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)