Bradley Fighting Vehicle: Heat in the Driver's Compartment

This paper reports some preliminary efforts to document heat issues in the M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle. This research compared surface and ambient temperatures throughout the driver compartments of the M2A3 and its predecessor, the M2A2 ODS (Operation Desert Storm) vehicle. Reports by Bradley Fighting Vehicle personnel had suggested that the M2A2 ODS was hot, but that the M2A3 was hotter. Results of this study supported these reports. Surface temperature measurements indicated that radiant heat through engine adjacent areas of the driver's compartment of the M2A3 produced extreme heat levels that were substantially hotter than the M2A2 ODS, although both models were found to have extremely high levels of heat in these areas. This study provided empirical evidence for a primary source of excessive heat within the M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle driver's compartment. One of the possible engineering solutions to reduce heat in the driver's compartment suggested was implemented on a trial basis. Additional temperature readings on an insulated vehicle indicated that the insulation significantly reduced the heat coming from the engine area to the driver. Prepared in collaboration with Auburn Univ,. AL.