M7A3 BFIST Bradley Fire Support Team Vehicle

Magic Factory, 1/35 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Summary

B a c k g r o u n d

The M7A3 Bradley Fire Support Team (BFIST) with Fire Support Sensor System (FS3) incorporates a major upgrade in Target Location and Designation while maintaining the capabilities of the A3 BFIST in the areas of lethality, command and control, survivability, sustainability, and mobility.

The A3 BFIST FS3 provides designation under armour and Target Location Error 90 (TLE90) level target grid coordinates to support precision munition Calls For Fire. An estimated Target Location Error (TLE) is automatically generated and populated in the Call For Fire (CFF) eliminating the need for manual target grid refinement.

The A3 BFIST FS3 maintains the battlefield signature, mobility, and survivability of the M2A3 Bradley. The 25mm cannon and 7.62mm coax machine gun provide defensive capability.

Target Location:

The integrated Fire Support Sensor System provides target location
range of up to 20km. Target designation is performed under armour. The A3 BFIST FS3 produces TLE90 target grid coordinates and estimated TLE values automatically populated into a digital CFF message.

Improved Bradley Acquisition System (IBAS) enhances lethality and the Commander’s Independent Viewer (CIV) provides 360 degree situational awareness. The Bushmaster 25mm cannon fires both explosive and armour piercing rounds.

Increased driver field of view aids manoeuvrability in close-in, urban combat.

The Driver’s Vision Enhancer (DVE) provides greater manoeuvrability in adverse conditions.

Enhanced armour protection including roof fragmentation protection, underbelly armor, energy attenuating seats, crew ventilated Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) face piece connections, and mounts for armour tiles to provide additional protection against shaped- charge munitions.

Digital architecture allows embedded diagnostics for improved logistics support.

Digital Call for Fire through Forward Observer System (FOS) hosted on Stand-alone Computer Unit (SCU), Joint Battle Command – Platform (JBC-P) hosted on Mounted Family of Computer Systems (MFoCS), digital communications, Commander’s Display (CD), and Squad Leader’s Display (SLD).

Network connectivity and Beyond Line of Sight (BLoS) capability through digital satellite communications on the Blue Force Tracker 2 network with a Platform Encryption Device (PED).*

F i r s t L o o k

Magic Factory has just released a 1/35 scale M7A3 BFIST Bradley Fire Support Team Vehicle kit. I believe this is the first time that we have seen this variant as a mainstream plastic model.

The kit comprises 528 parts in grey plastic, 38 clear parts, two photo-etched frets, 1x sheet of coated lens stickers, four soft vinyl parts, self adhesive die-cut painting masks, turned metal barrel with separate muzzle brake.

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Thumbnail panels:

Moulding quality is first class.

The instructions are laid out logically over 15 pages and the assembly sequence is clearly indicated in text and illustrations in 33 steps.

Turret and hull sub-assemblies are broken down conventionally. Surface textures are comprehensive and convincing.

The lower hull is supplied as a tub with separate axles for the road wheels.

The upper and rear hull parts are separately moulded. Hatches are separate and may be posed to taste.

The T161 tracks are supplied in link and length.

They are made up from only 21 parts per side - a welcome relief for modellers suffering from Multi-Part Track-Link Fatigue Syndrome!

There are ejector circles on the inside surfaces of the track lengths but they should be pretty much invisble once installed and painted.

Detail parts are really nicely presented.

Four black-coloured soft vinyl parts are supplied. These are covers for the forward hull sides, flexible ammo belts for the turret .50 cal and mantlet cover.

Smaller details plus mesh are supplied on two photo-etched frets.

More than 100 small parts are on one of the two frets.

Clear parts are free from distortion.

A number of multi-media additions are present in the box.

The sheet of coated lens stickers will add a realistic finish to the vision blocks.

Self adhesive die-cut painting masks will make painting much faster and easier.

The turned metal barrel is a luxurious finishing touch. The hollowed-out muzzle brake is separate.

Markings for two vehicles are included on the kit's decal sheet.

They are printed perfectly.

C o n c l u s i o n

Magic Factory's brand new 1/35 scale M7A3 BFIST Bradley is highly detailed replica of this interesting vehicle, bristling with weaponry, defensive measures and electronics. Highly Recommended to experienced modellers

* Historical background courtesy of BAE Systems.

Thanks to Magic Factory for the sample