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The 'BMP-3' is a Russian infantry fighting vehicle which was first introduced in 1990. BMP stands for ''Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty'' (Боевая Машина Пехоты, literally "Combat Vehicle of Infantry") †.

Contents

Production history

Variants

Upgraded BMP-3M variant

Operators

Former Operators

See also

References

External links

Production history

The BMP-3, introduced in 1990, is a development of the BMP-1 and BMP-2. It is armed with a 100mm main gun, which can fire conventional HE-Frag shells or AT-10 Stabber ATGMs, a 30mm autocannon, and a 7.62mm machine gun, all mounted coaxially in the turret. There are also two 7.62mm bow machine guns.
The BMP-3 is capable of engaging targets out to 5,000 - 6,000 meters, with its ATGM weapon system (with an approximately eighty percent probability of a hit at that range). For comparison, U.S. M1 Abrams main battle tank is capable of hitting a tank-sized target with a probability of fifty percent at 4,000 meters. Note however that missile based systems have a minimum range of about 100 metres, within which only gunfire can engage targets, and that the flight time to maximum range is twelve seconds. If the missile launcher is destroyed, missile guidance ceases and the missile may well then miss its target. According to the manufacturer's web-site, all weapons can be fired from the halt, on the move and afloat with the same effectiveness. The ability to hit targets on the move with missiles was demonstrated during competitive evaluations in the UAE in 1991.

Variants

★ 'BMP-3'

★ 'BMP-3 M1995' - 9M133 Kornet (AT-14) ATGM

★ 'BRM-3' - Reconnaissance variant with 1PN71 thermal sight (3.7x/11x, 3km range), 1PN65 second-generation Image Intensifier (7x, 1.2-1.5km range), and Tall Mike I-band surveillance radar (3km man, 12km vehicle).

★ 'BMP-3K' - Command variant, includes additional radios and Ainet round fuzing capability.

★ 'BMP-3M' - upgraded version with uprated engine and thermal sights.

★ 'BREM-L' - armoured recovery vehicle (image)

★ 'BMP-3 Kornet-E' - Anti-tank version with 9M133 Kornet (AT-14) missile system

★ 'BMP-3 Krizantema' - Anti-tank version with two supersonic 9M123 Khrizantema (AT-15) missiles (image)

★ 'BMP-3K Rys' - Reconnaissance version with 30 mm gun and a radar 1R-133-1 to the top (image)

★ 'BMP-3F' - Specially designed for operations at sea, with improved seaworthiness and buoyancy, and high fire accuracy at sea force 2. This can endure continuous amphibious operation for seven hours.^[1]

Upgraded BMP-3M variant

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 HE-FRAG (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 UTD-32, which is rated at 660hp.^[2]

Operators

A Majority of BMP-3s are in use outside of Russia with the United Arab Emirates being the largest operator:

★ - 4

★ - 43

★ - 30 F series for Marine Corps on order,plan to acquire 150 more

★ - 110

★ - 122^[3]

★ - 70

★ - 4 ^[4]

★ - 415

★ - 50

Former Operators

★ - Passed on to successor states.

See also

★ British Warrior Tracked Armoured Vehicle

★ French AMX-10P

★ German Schützenpanzer Marder

★ German Schützenpanzer Puma

★ Italian Dardo IFV

★ Singaporean Bionix AFV

★ Swedish CV90 IFV

★ US M113 APC

★ US M2 Bradley IFV

References

1. [1]
2. [2]
3. BMP-3 at warfare.ru
4. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/ukraine/groundforces-equipment.htm


★ BMP-3 at GlobalSecurity.org

External links

★ Technical Data Sheet and pictures BMP-3 from ArmyRecognition.com

★ Kurganmashzavod manufacturer's site.

★ BMP-3 at Army Technology

★ BMP-3 at fas.org

★ BMP-3 at www.army-guide.com

★ Kurganmashzavod at www.army-guide.com