Love it or hate it? Why the M2A3 Bradley is a Marmite vehicle for US Army soldiers

Spending two weeks in the Mojave Desert with its spiders and scorpions would deter a lot of people, but safe in his M2A3 Bradley fighting vehicle, Specialist Damien Baird of the US Army is a happy man.

Not everyone shares his view of the Bradley, although what some people see as the vehicle's weaknesses, Spc Baird sees as its strengths.

"It's loud, it's big, it kicks up a lot of dust," explained Spc Baird, from Apache 410 Troop.

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He said of the enemy: "When we show up they know we're there, we want them to know we're there and we want them to keep their heads down.

"I personally love the Bradley, some people don't like the Bradley. I think it's a great fighting system.

"It's kind of like your mobile home as well, so the more you take care of it, the more it'll take care of you." 

Specialist Baird and Apache 410 troop have been recceing "enemy" forces alongside soldiers from 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, also known as the Welsh Cavalry, during Exercise Diamondback on the edge of Death Valley.

The Blackhorse Regiment is a worthy opponent for the British unit, and Forces News joined Spc Baird to take a closer look at the love-it-or-hate-it Bradley infantry fighting vehicle.

Watch our full report on Exercise Diamondback below or on our YouTube channel.