8 BMP-2 IFV, Former Soviet Union

BMP-3 IFV

The BMP-3 IFV entered service with the Russian Army in 1990 and immediately created a stir in Western armoured circles as it was obvious that the design owed nothing to previous models; for a while the type was given the Western designation of Ml 990/1.

Overall, the BMP-3 resembles a lightly-armoured light tank and is bulky and rather high but its main attribute seems to be a 100 mm gun capable of firing automatically-loaded laser-guided anti-armour projectiles as well as FRAG-HE; the 100 mm 9M117 'Bastion' laser-guided projectile has a potential combat range of 4,000 metres, allowing the BMP-3 to have a considerable anti-armour potential. There is also a coaxial 30 mm cannon and 7.62 mm MG plus two fixed bow-mounted 7.62 mm MGs firing forward.

The troops carried are located around the vehicle, one each side of the driver with the rest seated to the rear in two rows over the engine pack on two inward-facing bench seats with limited head room. Despite its weight (18.7 tonnes) the BMP-3 is fully amphibious with water propulsion provided by two water jet units in the hull rear. A reconnaissance version with the 100 mm gun removed (but retaining the 30 mm cannon) has been observed in prototype form and it has been proposed that the turretless BMP-3 chassis could be utilised as the basis for a series of

Former Soviet Union

variants such as an ARV - a driver training version has also been mooted along with an air defence version mounting a French missile turret.

Despite its many innovations the BMP-3 has yet to enter service in large numbers with the Russian Army probably due to the high costs involved, but export orders have been placed by Abu Dhabi and Kuwait, some of the latter order, which may reach 500 units, being fitted with French fire control systems,

BMP-3 IFV

Specification:

Crew: 3 Seating: 7 Weight: (combat) 18,700kg Length: 7.2m Width: 3.23 m Height: (overall) 3.23 m Ground clearance: 0.45 m Track: 2.76m Max speed: (road) 70 km/h Fuel capacity: not known Range: approx. 600 km Fording: amphibious Vertical obstacle: 0.8m Engine: Type UTD-29M diesel Power output: 500 hp Suspension: torsion bar Armament: 1 x 100 mm gun; 1 x 30 mm cannon; 3 x 7.62 mm MG Variants: Reconnaissance version

The bulk of the BMP-3IFV can be appreciated in this view - note the hull-mounted MG.