BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle
The BMP-3 infantry combat vehicle entered production in the late 1980s. About 120 BMP-3 vehicles are in service with the Russia Army and over 600 have been exported to a number of countries, including United Arab Emirates (390 vehicles), Cyprus (40), Indonesia (30), Kuwait (110) and South Korea (70). "About 120 BMP-3 vehicles are in service with the Russia Army." Kurganmashzavod of Kurgan, Russian Federation manufactures the chassis and the Instrument Design Bureau (KBP) of Tula is responsible for the turret. It is a tracked, armoured, amphibious vehicle designed to engage armoured ground and air targets while stationary, on the move and afloat. In 2007, the Russian Army placed an order with Kurganmashzavod for a number of newbuild BMP-3 vehicles. A command version, the BMP-3K, is available, which is the same as the basic BMP-3, but with additional communications and navigation equipment. A version designed for more sustained amphibious operation is the BMP-3F. Changes in construction allow movement afloat in sea state three and firing with necessary accuracy in sea state two. The BMP-3F can endure continuous amphibious operation for seven hours. A reconnaissance version, the BRM-3K, is in service with the Russian Army. UPGRADED BMP-3M VEHICLE
KBP and Kurganmashzavod have upgraded the vehicle with a new turret and engines. The upgraded vehicle is called the BMP-3M and the new turret includes a new automatic
fire control system with digital computer, new BZS1 gunner's sight with SAGEM thermal imager and laser illuminator, TKN-AI commander's periscope with laser infrared illuminator and new ammunition loading system. The BMP-3M will also be able to fire ammunition types including new 100mm laser-guided projectiles, new 100mm HEFRAG (High-Explosive Fragmentation) rounds and new 30mm APSDS (Armour-Piercing Discarding Sabot) rounds. Additional passive armour protection is effective against 12.7mm armour-piercing rounds from a range of 50m. Explosive reactive armour is available as an option. The new uprated engine is the UTD32, which is rated at 660hp. BMP-3 ARMAMENT
The main armament of the BMP-3 is a 100mm 2A70 semi-automatic rifled gun / missile launcher, which is stabilised in two axes and can fire either 3UOF HE-FRAG (High Explosive-Fragmentation) rounds or 3UBK10 anti-tank guided missiles. Effective range for the HE-FRAG round is 4,000m. Muzzle velocity is 250m/s. 22 HE-FRAG rounds can be carried in the automatic loader, total ammunition load being 40 rounds. Rate of fire is 10 rounds a minute. "The BMP-3F can endure continuous amphibious operation for seven hours." The gun fires the 3UBK10 anti-tank guided missile round, which consists of the 9M117 laser beamriding missile and container. This missile is used in the Bastion missile system (NATO designation AT-10 Stabber). It can engage tanks with Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) as well as slow, low-flying targets such as helicopters. Range is 100m to 4,000m. Hit probability is given as at least 0.8 with armour penetration of 600mm. Ammunition load is eight rounds. Armament also includes a 30mm 2A72 automatic gun, stabilised in two axes, which fires 3UOR-6 and 3UOR-8 rounds. Ammunition load is 500 AP (Armour-Piercing) or HEFRAG rounds. Rate of fire is more than 300 rounds a minute and range is 1,500m to 2,000m. There is also one 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun and two 7.62 bow machine guns.
SELF-PROTECTION The BMP-3 can be fitted with the Arena Defensive Aids suite, developed by KBM Kolumna. The system consists of target detection and tracking radar, computer and processing unit and protective ammunition. The system is automatic: the radar passes tracking data to the computer, which selects the number of ammunition rounds and controls firing. The selected ammunition is then expelled as a directed field. The vehicle can also be fitted with the Shtora defensive aids system which counters anti-tank guided weapons with SACLOS (Semi-Automatic Command-to-Line-of-Sight). The hull and turret are constructed from aluminium alloy armour. Protection also includes steel external straps fitted on the turret, side armour displacement panels and a doublebottom at the front of the vehicle. NBC equipment includes a filter ventilation unit as well as hermetic sealing. This system is located in the rear of the vehicle, as is the ejection cooling system which, coupled with the reduced length of the gas ventilation system exhaust, serves to reduce the tank's thermal signature.
FIRE CONTROL AND OBSERVATION The fire control system is automatic with manual override for both gunner and commander. It includes a 1V539 ballistic computer, 2E52 electro-mechanical armament stabiliser and 1D16 laser rangefinder. The gunner has a 1K13-2 main sight, a combined image-intensified day / night sight and PPD-1 standby day sight. The commander has a 1PZ-10 day sight and TKN-3 combined day and image-intensified night sight. "The main BMP-3 armament is a 100mm 2A70 semi-automatic rifled gun / missile launcher."
The French company SAGEM, with Kurganmashzavod and Peleng of Belarus, have developed the Namut thermal sight for the BMP-3. This sight is based on the SAGEM Athos eight – 12 micron three field of view thermal imager and is fitted to the BMP-3 ICV's delivered to the United Arab Emirates. PROPULSION The engine is the V-shaped UTD-29 diesel engine, which produces 500hp. The transversal mount of the engine enables the wheel drive, cardan shaft for the waterjet drives and electric bilge pump to be located underneath. Transmission is hydromechanical with a hydrostatic gearbox for the steering gear and power take-off for the water jets. The BMP-3 vehicle weighs 18.7t and is capable of a maximum speed of 70km/h and range of 600km on roads. SPECIFICATIONS Key Data Crew
3 Dimensions
Length (Gun Forwards)
7.2m
Length (Over Hull)
6.7m
Width (Over Tracks)
3.15m
Width (Over Gill-Type Armour Panels)
3.3m
Maximum Height
2.65m
Height Overall
2.45m
Clearance Operations
450mm
Maximum Clearance
510mm
Minumum Clearance
190mm Engines
Engine
UTD-29 diesel engine developing 500hp
Power-to-Weight Ratio
25hp/t Performance
Maximum Speed
Paved road - 70km/h Afloat - 10km/h
Road Range on Highway
600km
Air Transportability
1-76, AN-22, An-124
Combat Weight
18.7t
Troop Carrying Capacity
7 with 2 additional
Communications
VHF R-173 radio, VHF R-173P receiver, R-124 intercom Armament
30mm Gun
2A72 automatic
100m Gun Launcher
2A70 gun mount
Machine Guns
1 x 7.62 PKT coaxial 2 x 7.62mm bow machine guns
Firing Ball-Swivel Ports for Troops 5 Armour Protection Front Armour
Gives protection from 30mm AP rounds of 2A42 gun at a range of 300m at ±40°
Side Armour
Gives protection from 7.62mm AP bullets at pointblank range Ammunition
HE-Frag (3UOF) Rounds for 100mm Gun Launcher
17
3UBK10 Anti-Tank Guided Missiles
3
30mm Gun
500 rounds
100m Gun Launcher
22 HE-frag rounds in loader, 8 missiles
Machine Guns
6,000 cartridges
Gunner's Sights
1K13-2 day sight Combined day / night sight PPD-1 standby day sight
Commander's Sights
1PZ-10 day sight TKN-3 day / night sight
Armament Stabiliser
2E52 electromechanical
Ballistic Computer
1V539
Laser Rangefinder
1D16
