BRADLEY FIRE SUPPORT TEAM (BFIST) VEHICLE

The Bradley Fire Support Team (BFIST) Vehicle program is a key line item in the Army's budget, specifically under the modification of tracked combat vehicles. The primary objective of this program is to sustain, upgrade, and modernize the BFIST fleet, which serves as the principal fire support platform for Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCT). The BFIST vehicle replaces the older M981 Fire Support Vehicle and is designed to provide fire support teams with enhanced capabilities for target location, designation, and coordination of indirect fires, all while maintaining the survivability and mobility of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) family.

The program's goals focus on both procurement and modification activities. These include funding for components, engineering, and logistics support necessary to resolve operational issues identified through field problem reports. The objectives also encompass the integration of new equipment, development and installation of modification kits, and addressing obsolescence issues to ensure the vehicles remain operationally relevant. The program aims to bring all variants of the BFIST M7A4 BFIST, A3 BFIST with Fire Support Sensor System (FS3), and M7 BFIST SA into compliance with current transportability and recovery requirements.

One of the major objectives for FY 2026 is the continued upgrade of all BFIST variants to include the Fire Observer Software (FOS) on the Mounted Family of Computer System (MFoCS), the TALIN 5000 Inertial Navigation Unit (INU), and target accuracy enhancements to meet Category I Target Location Error (TLE) specifications. These upgrades are critical for enabling fire support teams to plan, coordinate, and execute timely and accurate artillery and mortar fires. The integration of the Fire Support Sensor System (FS3) provides automated surveillance, target acquisition, identification, and designation capabilities, both while mounted and dismounted.

FY 2026 funding supports improvements to the M3A3 BFIST Vehicle with FS3 that address field-identified issues, enhance safety, and mitigate obsolescence. This includes the development and installation of modification kits, software and cyber maintenance, calibration of the INU for operations above the 49th parallel, and updates to technical manuals. The program also supports system integration assessments for incorporating Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) capabilities into the BFIST mission set, further expanding the vehicle's operational utility.

Another key objective is the integration of Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) target acquisition technologies, which are intended to increase the combat effectiveness and overmatch capabilities of ABCTs. These efforts leverage existing Program of Record (POR) technologies and align with the priorities of the Army's Fires Community. Additionally, funding supports the modernization of the Bradley Common Display (BCD) across all BFIST vehicles, improving situational awareness and command and control functions for fire support teams.

The program is justified by the need to maintain the BFIST's operational effectiveness through at least the 2050s, as it remains a critical asset in the ABCT formation. The upgrades and modifications ensure the platform meets the Operational Requirements Document (ORD) objectives, addresses evolving threats, and supports both active and reserve components for homeland defense, domestic emergency response, and military support to civil authorities, as directed by section 1815 of the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act.