The Bradley family as a whole was originally intended to support the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), but ended up replacing it in U.S. Army service altogether.

Today, the Bradley is fielded in conjunction with the M1 Abrams series of main battle tanks and often accompanies infantry squads into combat.

The U.S. Army's intended replacement for the M3 Bradley and up-armored Humvee reached the engineering and manufacturing development phase.

It reached the engineering and manufacturing development phase before both partners terminated their involvement in October 2001 to pursue other more urgent programs: the U.S. Interim Armored Vehicle and the UK Future Rapid Effect System.

[3] From 2003 Future Combat Systems (FCS) planned a successor to the M3 Bradley in the XM1201 Reconnaissance and Surveillance Vehicle.

All versions are equipped with two four-barreled M257 Grenade Launchers on the front of the turret for creating defensive smoke screens, chaff, and flares.

The Bradley is highly capable in cross-country open terrain, in accordance with one of the main design objectives of keeping pace with the M1 Abrams.

The idea was abandoned when it became apparent that the cycle's unprotected fuel tank could be hazardous to crew members.

Unlike the M2A1 Bradley, the NBC masks were connected to the central filter for all five crewmen, instead of just the driver, gunner, and vehicle commander.