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BMD-3
BMD-3 Airborne Combat Vehicle (Russia)
KEY RECOGNITION FEATURES
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• Pointed nose with horizontal hull top extending to rear of hull, three hatches in hull top at the front, turret (as fitted to BMP-2) in the centre, louvres in hull top either side, vertical hull rear
• Turret has long barreled 30 mm cannon that overhangs front of vehicle, hull sides are almost vertical
• Suspension either side consists of five road wheels with idler at the front, drive sprocket at the rear and four track return rollers
SPECIFICATIONS
Crew:
2 + 5
Armament:
1 x 30mm cannon, 1 x 7.62mm MG (coaxial), 1 x AT-4/ AT-5 ATGW launcher, 1 x 7.62mm MG (bow), 1 x 40mm grenade launcher (bow), 1 x 5.45mm MG (bow) Ammunition: 860 x 30mm, 2000 x 7.62mm, 2160 x 5.45mm, 551 x 30mm grenade, 4 x ATGW, 2 x3 smoke grenade launchers j_enc[thj__ 6.36m Width: Heic[ht:__ Ground clearance: Weight, combat: Power-to-weight ratio: Engine: 3.134m 2.170m 0.15 to 0.53m 13 200kg _34jip/tonne 2V-06 water-cooled diesel
71km/h 500km 450I Amphibious 0.8m (estimate) 1.8m (estimate) 60% Side slope: 30% Armour: Armour type: NBC: Night vision equipment: Classified Aluminium Yes Yes
DEVELOPMENT
The BMD-3 has been developed as the follow-on to the earlier BMD-1 and BMD-2 airborne combat vehicles with the BMD-3 being larger and much heavier. Production commenced in 1989 and so far it has been identified only in service with Russian airborne units.
The driver is seated in the front of the hull in the centre with another person either side. Mounted in the left side of the hull is a 30 mm AG-17 automatic grenade launcher while in the right side is mounted a 5.45 mm RPKS machine gun.
The two man power operated turret is mounted in the centre of the forward part of the hull and is the same as that fitted to the BMP-2 ICVand armed with a 30mm 2A42 cannon with a 7.62mm machine gun mounted coaxial. Turret traverse is 360 degrees with weapon elevation from -5 to +75 degrees. Mounted on the turret roof is a launcher for the AT-'4 or AT-5 ATGW.
An unusual feature of the BMD-3 is is hydropneumatic suspension system which allows the ground clearance to be varied from 150mm to 530mm, normal ground clearance is 450 mm. The standard tracks are 320mm wide but these can be replaced by wider 480mm tracks.
The BMD-3 is fully amphibious being propelled in the water at a speed of 10km/h by two waterjets mounted at the rear of the hull. Before entering the water a trim vain is erected at the front of the hull and the bilge pumps are switched on.
VARIANTS
There are no known variants but it is assumed that specialised versions of the BMP-3 are under development along similar lines to those of the BMD-1 and BMD-2.
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STATUS
In production. In service only with Russia.
MANUFACTURER
Volgograd Tractor Plant, Russia
Above: BMD-3
Above right: BMD-3
Right: BMD-3
Far right: BMD-3
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BMD-1 Airborne Combat Vehicle (Russia)
KEY RECOGNITION
FEATURES
• Same turret as BMP- 1 ICV mounted on forward part of hull roof with Sagger ATGW over 73mm gun
• Suspension each side has five small road wheels, drive sprocket rear, idler front, four track-return rollers (first and fourth support inside of track only)
• Pointed nose with trim vane on glacis plate, hull sides vertical with slight chamfer along two-thirds of hull side
SPECIFICATIONS
Crew: Armament:
Ammunition:
Length: Width: Height: Ground clearance: Weight, combat: Power-to-weight ratio: Ground pressure: Maximum road speed: Maximum water speed: Maximum road range: Fuel capacity: Fording: Vertical obstacle: Trench: Gradient: Side slope: Armour:
Armour type: NB£iy_stemj_ Night vision equipment: 3+4 1 x 73mm (main), 1 x 7.62mm MG (coaxial), 1 x AT-3 Sagger launcher, 2 x 7.62mm forward-firing MG 40 x 73mm, 2,000 x 7.62mm, 3 x Sagger 5.4m 2.63m 1.62m to 1.97m 0.1 to 0.45m 7,500kg 32hp/tonne 0.57kg/cm! 70km/hr lOkm/hr 320km 300 lit Amphibious 0.8m 1.6m 60% 30% 15mm (max hull), 23mm (max turret) Aluminium Yes Yes (commander, gunner and driver, infra-red)
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DEVELOPMENT
The BMD-1 was developed to meet requirements of the Russian Airborne forces and was first seen in public in 1973. Driver sits front centre, commander to his left and bow machine gunner to his right. Turret is identical to BMP-1 ICV's and has 73mm 2A28 smoothbore gun fed by automatic loader with 7.62mm PKT MG mounted coaxially to right. Guns power-elevate from -4° to +30°, turret traverses through 360°. Mounted over 73mm gun is an AT-3 Sagger wire-guided ATGW and in each corner of bow is a 7.62mm MG. To rear of turret sit remaining three crew members, engine is far rear of hull.
The vehicle is fully amphibious, propelled by two waterjets mounted at rear, and is fitted with smoke generating equipment and engine pre-heater. Hydropneumatic suspension allows height adjustment.
VARIANTS
BMD-1 P, BMD-1 with Sagger removed and fitted with pintlemounted AT-4 Spigot ATGW on turret roof. BMD-2, new turret armed with 30mm cannon as used in BMP-2, 7.62mm coaxial MG and pintle mount on roof for AT4 Spigot or AT-5 Spandrel ATGW. Only one bow-mounted 7.62mm MG. 82mm mortar carrier, BMD-1 with 82mm mortar in rear, probably field expedient for Afghanistan. BTR-D APC, longer chassis with no turret six road wheels, higher roof. BMD-KShM, command version of above. BMD-OOB, communications vehicle BRehM-D, repair and recovery vehicle. 1V118, BMD artillery observation post vehicle.
1V119, BMD artillery fire direction centre vehicle. BMD-1 with RPV, BMD-KShM is used as launcher for Shmel
RPV. BREM-D, BMD ARV. BTR-D, BTR-D towing or carrying ZU-23 LAAG. SO-120, BMD chassis is used as basis for SO-120 (or 2S9) 120mm self-propelled howitzer/mortar covered in Selfpropelled Guns and Howitzers section.
STATUS
Production complete. In service with Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, India, Iraq, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine.
MANUFACTURER
Russian state arsenals, possibly Izhevsk.
