An image that surfaced online shows an M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle in Russia equipped with a Soviet-made 2A72 30-millimeter cannon, replacing its original Bushmaster M242 25-millimeter gun.
The vehicle, seen in good condition, is presumed to be a Ukrainian Armed Forces platform that was captured by Russia.
It’s unclear whether the 2A72 integration is intended for combat operations, military testing, or other applications, but similar unconventional alterations to armored vehicles have surfaced throughout Moscow’s now three-year invasion of Ukraine.
Details about the photo’s owner and location are limited, but the system is potentially parked at a military repository with other tactical vehicles.
Estimates say that Kyiv has more than 300 Bradleys in its inventory – all donated by the US government in response to Russia’s aggression. Last June, sources said that the war-torn country lost over 170 vehicles in the conflict, with some captured by Russian forces.
🇷🇺Some wondered how can Russians use the Bradley if they don’t have ammo for it. Well, that’s how:
“Russian repairmen installed a domestic 30mm 2A72 cannon on a captured Bradley instead of the chain-driven Bushmaster.” pic.twitter.com/m4SZhfVKQe
— SIMPLICIUS Ѱ (@simpatico771) June 12, 2025
The Shipunov 2A72
Developed by then-state-owned defense company Tulamashzavod in the 1970s, the 2A72 is a lighter variant of the Shipunov 2A42 cannon installed on multiple Cold War-era ground and airborne combat platforms.
The family of weapons is still operational across present-day Russian vehicles, helicopters, and naval systems, with some iterations adopted by Ukraine, NATO, and the Chinese military.
Moscow’s 2A42 measures 3 meters (10 feet) long and weighs up to 105 kilograms (231 pounds), depending on configuration.
It can fire a maximum of 330 rounds per minute, has a muzzle velocity of 900 meters (2,953 feet) per second, and a range of 2,500 meters (8,202 feet).
