BMP-3

BMP-3 Infantry Combat Vehicle (Russia)

KEY RECOGNITION FEATURES

• Large box type hull with almost horizontal glacis plate, nose slopes back under front of hull, vertical hull sides rear v. ith two small doors in hull rear. Mounted in either side of hull front is a 7.62mm MG firing forwards

• Circular turret in centre of hull with two hatches, over frontal 180° of the turret is another layer of armour, longbarrelled 100mm gun with 30mm cannon mounted coaxial to right, distinctive box over rear of main armament

• Suspension either side has six road wheels with idler at front, drive sprocket at rear and three track-return rollers, upper part of track covered by light steel cover similar to that on BMP-1 and BMP-2.

SPECIFICATIONS

Crew: Armament:

Ammunition:

Length: Width: Height: Ground clearance: Weight, combat: Power-to-weight ratio: Ground pressure: Engine: Maximum road speed: Maximum water speed: Maximum road range: Fuel capacity: Fording: Vertical obstacle: Trench: Gradient: Side slope: Armour: Armour type: NBC system: Night vision equipment: 3+7 1 x 100mm, 1 x 30mm cannon (coaxial), 1 x 7.62mm MG (coaxial), 2 x 7.62mm (hull front, one either side), 2 x 3 smoke grenade dischargers 40 x 100mm, 500 x 30mm, 6,000 x 7.62mm, 6 x ATGW 7.14m 3.15m 2.30m (turret roof) 510mm (see text) 18,700kg 26.73hp/tonne 0.61 kg/cm2 Diesel developing SOOhp 70km/hr lOkm/hr 600km Not known Amphibious 0.8m 2.5m 60% 30% Classified Steel Yes Yes (commander, gunner and driver)

DEVELOPMENT

The BMP-3 was developed to meet the requirements of the Russian Army and was first seen in public during a parade held in Moscow in 1990.

The driver is seated at the front of the vehicle in centre with an additional crew member to his left and right, all three being provided with a single piece hatch cover. The two man turret is in the centre of the hull with the commander being seated on the right and the gunner on the left, both with a roof hatch. Main armament consists of a 100mm rifled gun that in addition to firing conventional ammunition also fires a laser guided ATGW which has the NATO designation of the AT-10. Mounted to the right of this is a 30mm cannon that is attached to the 100mm gun. In addition there is a 7.62mm machine gun mounted to the right of the 30mm cannon with another 7.62mm machine gun being mounted in the front of the hull firing forwards. A total of seven infantrymen are carried, one either side of the driver with the remainder being seated to the sides and rear of the turret.

The engine is located at the rear of the vehicle on the right side with the fuel tanks being under the floor of the vehicle. The small troop compartment at the rear of the BMP-3 is provided with roof hatches and two doors in the rear that open outwards. As the floor of the troop compartment is so high from the ground, steps unfold as the rear doors are opened.

The vehicle is fully amphibious being propelled in the water by two waterjets mounted at the rear of the hull and before entering the water the trim vane is erected at the front of the vehicle and the bilge pumps are switched on. The suspension is of the adjustable type and the driver can adjust the suspension to suit the type of ground being crossed.

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VARIANTS

BMP-3 reconnaissance, called BRM, or Rys (Lynx). BMP-3 driver training vehicle. BMP-3 recovery vehicle (BREM-L). BMP-3K command vehicle. BMP-3M, latest model for export 120mm 2S31 Vena artillery system is based on BMP-3 chassis BMP-3 Kornet-E ATGW system (prototype) BMP-3 Krizantema ATGW system (prototype)

STATUS

In production. In service with Azerbaijan, Cyprus, South Korea, Kuwait, Russia, Ukraine and United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi)

MANUFACTURER

Kurgan Machine Construction Plant, Russia.

Above right: BMP-3

Right: BMP-3 reconnaissance vehicle (BRM)

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