Someone Just Paid $16K for an M2 Bradley Turret Simulator, Mock Weapons Included

1 week, 2 days ago - 11 November 2024, autoevolution

Ever since the early 1980s, the battlefields of the world, or at least those that saw American and allied troops take part in combat, also witnessed the mighty power of an infantry fighting vehicle called M2 Bradley. The work of United Defense and later BAE Systems, the weapons and transport platform is still in use, with over 4,600 units having been made since more than four decades ago.

As with any military tool, the Bradley, too, is not something we civilians can experience. Yet at least one of us now has the chance of feeling what it's like to operate the 25-ton beast, after they've paid $16,000 to get their hands on an M2 turret simulator.

The thing popped up for sale on Bring a Trailer last week, and it was sold from the lot of a California dealer. It's unclear how the structure ended up in their hands, or what its operational history is, but the turret is fascinating enough for us to give you a closer look at it.

The object is not some replica, at least as far as we're told, and it has been specifically designed to teach soldiers how to operate the turret and weapons system of the Bradley. It is, in essence, a copy of one of the fittings the fighting vehicle can get on top, propped on a two-tier steel frame supported by casters.

The turret that is at the center of this entire structure can be accessed by means of removable stairs, a steel mesh floor, and removable side panels. Once inside, the trainee is greeted by a sight Bradley operators are very familiar with: crew stations for the three people that are meant to operate it, an intercom system to communicate, bore sights to acquire at the target, and controls for aiming and firing weapons.

That’s right, weapons, as the simulator is equipped with such things: grenade launchers, machine guns (25 mm and 7.62 mm), and even a TOW missile launcher. Sure, none of them are operational or even real (some are replicas), but they are there and give the entire thing a menacing look.

For the mighty TOW missile there is a dedicated console, with the other weapons featured on separate panels. They allow operators to select ammo type, arm the grenades, and engage the night vision system – it's unclear if there is an actual night vision system on the simulator.

The contraption is meant to train people how to operate the turret on the Bradley and fire its weapons, and as such it is tied to an instructor's control console located next to the turret. To further aid operators there are also instructions displayed on placards located here and there, showing how to load ammo, and close and secure the hatch.

We don’t know who the buyer of the M2 Bradley turret simulator is or what they plan to do with it.