Basic Information

Name

JRTC VISMOD: BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle

Designation

BMP-3

Alternate Designation

BMP-3

Equipment Type

Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)

Manufacturer

Kurganmashzavod

Date of Introduction

1990

Description

The BMP-3 is one of the most heavily armed infantry combat vehicles in service, fitted with several different weapon systems capable of ranging out to 5.2km. It carries a 3 man crew plus 7 infantrymen, and is capable of firing all weapons on the move with no loss of effectiveness. This makes it crucial asset for the threat. While most variants will have a 30mm auto cannon, reports indicate that a variant with a 100mm rifled gun may be in production. Although Explosive Reactive Armor is available for the BMP-3, the threat will likely not use it in environments / situations where there will be extensive use of dismounted infantry in the area in order to prevent injuring soldiers in the vicinity of the vehicle. The BMP-3 [BMP = Boyevaya Mashina Pyekhota - Infantry Fighting Vehicle], which represents a totally different design concept from BMP-1/2, is a light tank that can hold a squad of infantry. It has a 100mm main gun that fires HE to destroy buildings, can fire long-range ATGMs, a 30mm auto-cannon and a medium machine gun as a single unit in the turret. The innovative BMP-3 armament suite has been subjected to criticism in the Russian military. The performance obtained from the 500 horsepower engine powering this 20.6 ton vehicle compares favorably to the American Bradley, which has an engine of similar power. The BMP-3, first seen in public during a parade in Moscow in 1990, was built by Kurganmashzavod, developer and manufacturer of the BMP-2 infantry combat vehicle.

Ground Specifications

Crew 3

Engine V-10 Diesel (500 hp)

Armor Welded Aluminum Alloy

Active Protection Arena

Variants

BMP-3M KBP and Kurganmashzavod have upgraded the vehicle with a new engines and turret with a new ATGM system 9K116-3 Basnya. The upgraded vehicle is called the BMP-3M and the new Bakhcha-U turret which includes a new automatic fire control system with ballistic computer, new SOZH gunner's sight with laser rangefinder and an ATGM guidance channel, thermal imager, TKN-AI commander's vision device with laser illuminator and new ammunition loading system for ATGM.

BMP-3M Ataka BMP-3M version with a two men turret armed with 30 mm 2A72 autocannon, and 9M120-1 Ataka ATGM

BMMP Version for naval infantry, fitted with the turret of the BMP-2.

BMP-3K Tactical command variant, includes additional radio R-173, an intercom for seven users, an AB-R28 independent portable power unit, a navigation device TNA-4-6 and the "Ainet" air burst round detonation system. The BMP-3K lacks the bow machine guns and has its whip antennas mounted on the rear hull. Crew: 3+3

BMP-3F Armed with the standard 2K23 turret. Specially designed for operations at sea, with improved seaworthiness and buoyancy, capability to move afloat at sea state 3 and fire with the required accuracy at sea state 2. Compared to the basic model, the vehicle design features changes increasing floatability and vehicle stability: the self-entrenching equipment is omitted, a lightweight anti-surge vane and an air intake tube are introduced; the BMP-3F turret is also protected by anti-surge vanes. Water jet propellers develop a speed of 10 km/h when afloat. The BMP-3F design allows the vehicle to come ashore under rough sea conditions and to tow the same-type vehicle. A new main sight, the SOZH, which has an integrated laser range finder and an ATGM guidance channel, is installed. This version can endure continuous amphibious operation for seven hours with the running engine

BMP-3F Amphibious version based on BMP-3F with the original turret replaced by a smaller remote weapon station with either 7.62, 12.7 or 14.5mm machine gun. It can accommodate a crew commander, driver, gunner, and 14 troops, and can use optional ERA armor.

BRM-3K "Rys" (Ob.501) Surveillance and reconnaissance variant with 1PN71 thermal sight (3.7x/11x, 3 km range), 1PN61 active-pulse night vision device ( 3 km range), 1RL-133-1 ("TALL MIKE") I-band surveillance radar (3 km man, 12 km vehicle), 1V520 computer and a TNA-4-6 navigation system. The armament consists of the stabilized 30 mm autocannon 2A72 (600 rounds) and a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun (2,000 rounds) or AU-220M Baikal remote weapon station with 57 mm BM-57 autocannon and 7.62mm PKMT machine gun.

BMP-3 Dragoon New IFV version with an unmanned turret which can be armed with a variety of combat modules, including standard BMP-3's Bakhcha-U turret with a 2A70 100 mm cannon, a 2A72 30 mm autocannon and a PKTM 7.62 mm machine gun, the AU-220M Baikal remote weapon station module with a 57 mm BM-57 gun and a module with a 125 mm 2A82-1M tank gun, the new 816 h.p.

BREM-L "Beglianka" (Ob.691) Armoured recovery vehicle with five-tonne crane and 20/40 metric tonne capacity winch.

BMP-3 Anti-Tank A prototype of this BMP-3 variant was completed in 1995. This turretless variant has two launchers for the AT-14 Kornet laser-beam-riding ATGM system, and is capable of feeding six missiles equipped with tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads to each launcher. A related version is the Kornet self-propelled anti-tank missile complex. This variant provides a ready-round capacity of 16 missiles in two ready-launch drums. It is estimated that the vehicle has capacity for 16 reload missiles. The Kornet ATGM is designed by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau. Integration on the BMP-3 is performed by the Volsk Mechanical Plant in Saratov. Self-propelled anti-tank version with 9M123 Khrizantema (AT-15) ATGM system with radar and laser guidance. The 9P157-2 carries two 9M123 missiles on launch rails, which are extended from a stowed position; the radar is also stowed during transit. The missiles are re-loaded automatically from an internal magazine with 15 rounds (missiles are stored and transported in sealed canisters) and can also accept munitions manually loaded from outside the vehicle. Ref: Military Periscope, April 2016

9P163M-1 "Kornet-T" Anti-tank version with Kornet (AT-14) missile system. Some sources call it the 9P162. The Kornet is similar in function to the Khrizantema missile system. The 9P163M-1 carries two 9M133 missiles on launch rails, which are extended from a stowed position during transit. Missiles are re-loaded automatically by the tank destroyer from an internal magazine with 16 rounds (missiles are stored and transported in sealed canisters).

2S18 "Pat-S" (Ob.697) Self-propelled version of the 152 mm howitzer 2A61 "Pat-B". This was only a prototype, further development led to the 2S31 Vena.

DZM "Vostorg-2" Combat engineer vehicle with a dozer blade and excavating bucket. Prototype.

UR-07 Mine clearing system. The UR-07 might replace the UR-77 "Meteorit". It has the same chassis as the BMP-3 but a bigger steel hull with two launch ramps in the rear. The ramps are used to fire rockets towing hose-type mine-clearing line charges to clear mine fields.

UNSh (Ob.699) Basic chassis for specialised variants.

Hermes or TKB-841 Air-defence vehicle with high-velocity missiles and radar system. Prototype.[68] 2S31 Vena â Self-propelled mortar carrier equipped with a 120 mm mortar based on BMP-3 chassis. It entered production in 1996 and service in 2010.

2S38 ZAK-57 Derivatsiya-PVO Self-propelled air defense vehicle based on BMP-3 chassis fitted with a 57 mm autocannon and passive reconnaissance and target tracking equipment.[72] It is designed to shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), cruise missiles, air-to-surface missiles, aircraft, helicopters, and MLRS rockets.

UDAR UGV Unmanned ground vehicle based on the tracked chassis of the BMP-3 with the center hull raised to fit the DUBM-30 Epoch armed with 2A42 autocannon, 7.62mm PKMT machine gun, and Kornet-M ATGM.

Prokhod-1 Unmanned mine-clearing vehicle based on the BMP-3 chassis. It is equipped with the anti-mine TMT-C trawl, and a remote weapon station turret with a 12.7mm machine gun.

BMP-3 with Athos Sight This variant is fitted with the French SAT Athos thermal imaging system. Known as the Namut, the two-axis stabilized thermal sight is mounted on the left rear of the BMP-3 turret, identical to the sight that is employed on the French Leclerc tank and which was supplied to the United Arab Emirates. The horizontal and vertical sight has magnification of 3x and 10x, with 9x6, 3x2 and 1.5x1 fields of view increasing the vehicle's three turret-mounted weapon ranges. The Namut operates in the 8 to 12 micron wavelength and operates on a 28 V power supply. The U.A.E. fields several BMP-3s with the Athos sight. Ref: Military Periscope, April 2016

BMP-3 multiple role chassis The Kurgan Machine Construction Plant offers the BMP-3 chassis minus the turret and top and front decking to serve a variety of roles, including air defense, engineering vehicles, artillery, mortar platforms and as command-and-control vehicles. Ref: Military Periscope, April 2016

BMP-3 with Wildcat turret GLS, a subsidiary of Krauss-Maffei of Germany, designed a prototype BMP-3 chassis fitted with a Wildcat turret. The modular nature of the turret allowed it to be armed with a variety of weapon systems including a 30-mm cannon and a pod of two SA-16/SA-18 missiles. An optical tracking system incorporating a FLIR, laser rangefinder and a Siemens 2D radar has also been tested. The Swedish Ericsson HARD 3-D radar system could also be incorporated onto the turret. The turret was unveiled in 2001. Ref: Military Periscope, April 2016

BMP-3 with Mistral SAM The SANTAL turret manufactured by Matra Defense of France has been offered for installation onto the BMP-3 chassis. The SANTAL turret comprises six Mistral SAMs in the ready position. Ref: Military Periscope, April 2016

System

Alternative Designation BMP-3

Manufacturer Kurganmashzavod

Type Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)

Family BMP-3

Crew 3 ea

Passenger Capacity 7 ea

Fighting Module 2K23 Fighting Module

Dimensions

Length (Hull) 7.14 m

Width 3.2 m

Height 2.45 m

Weight, Combat 20.6 tons

Ground Pressure 0.63 kg/cm2

Automotive

Engine Name UTD-29

Engine Type 10 cylinder, 4 stroke, v-shaped, water colled diesel

Engine Power 500 hp

Cruising Range 600 km

Speed, Maximum Road 70 km/h

Speed, Average Cross 45

Speed Maximum Swim 10 km/h

Gradient 60 deg

Side Slope 30 deg

Vertical Step 0.8 m

Trench 2.5 m

Fording Depth Amphibious m

Communications

Primary Radio R-173

Secondary Radio R-173P

Main Gun

Note The complete weapon system of the BMP-3 infantry combat vehicle is known as the 2K23 and consists of the 100 mm gun 2A70 with a 30 mm 2A72 automatic cannon (see later in this section) mounted coaxially to the right and a 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun.

System

Name 2A70 (100mm) Rifle Gun

Type 100 mm

Max Rate of Fire 8-10 rds/min

Loader Type Automatic loader, manual for gun and ATGMs

Maximum Elevation +60 deg

Minimum Elevation -5 deg

Traverse Range 360 deg

Traverse Left 180 deg

Traverse Right 180 deg

Fire on the Move Yes

Maximum Aimed Range INA

Maximum Effective Range (Day) 5,200 m

Maximum Effective Range (Night) INA

Tactical AA Range 4,000 m

Armor Penetration 25mm of RHA

Ammunition

Name 9M117M1 Arkan

Type Laser beam riding missile

Caliber 100 mm

Muzzle Velocity 330 m/s

Basic Load 40 Total Rounds of any 100mm Russian Projectile ea

Warhead Type HEAT

Cartridge 3UBK23-3 cartridge

Soft Launch Yes

Motor Type Rocket

Penetration 650 mm of rolled homogenous armour (RHA) behind ERA or 750 mm of RHA without ERA and it has a maximum range of 4,000 m

Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)

System

Name 9M117 Bastion (AT-10)

Type Anti-Tank Guided Missile

Caliber 100 mm

Charge Type Reduced Explosive Charge

Muzzle Velocity 400-500 m/s

Length 1,048 mm

Weight 27 kg

Basic Load 8 ea

Rocket Motor Ignites 1.6 seconds after firing the missile and it burns for 6 seconds

Guidance System Beam-riding laser guidance.

Steering System Laser sensor to detect the modulation of the light.

Flight Time (4,000 meters) 12 seconds

Self Destruct Time 26-41 seconds

Telescopic Sight 1K13 day/night telescopic sight (with integral 1K13BZ laser emitter)

Stabilising Fins 4 ea

Searchlight L4 IR searchlight

Effective Firing Range 100-4,000 m

Warhead Type HEAT

Penetration 650-750 mm

Note The 9M117 Bastion (AT-10) is prone to radio or optical jamming

Coaxial Weapon System

System

Name 2A72, 30mm Automatic Cannon

Type 30 mm

Max Rate of Fire 330 rds/min

Maximum Effective Firing Range (Air Targets) 4 km

Maximum Effective Firing Range (Ground Targets) 2 km

Maximum Effective Firing Range (Light Armor Vehicles) 1.5 km

Loader Type Dual-belt feed

Maximum Elevation -5 deg

Minimum Elevation +60 deg

Fire on the Move Yes

Traverse Range 360 deg

Traverse Right 180 deg

Traverse Left 180 deg

Firing Modes Single shot, 10-round burst, or automatic mode.

Ammunition (Option 1)

Name 3UBR8

Type 195 AP rounds

Caliber 30 mm

Cartridge 30 Ã 165

Muzzle Velocity 1,120 m/s

Basic Load INA

Penetrator Type Tungsten alloy sub-calibre penetrator

Penetration Can defeat 28 mm of RHA set at a 60Â° angle from a range of 1,000 m

Note A sub-caliber discarding sabot. No tracer. Penetration: 25mm RHA at flat angle of impact, 1500 m range 25mm thick plate at 60 degree impact, 1500 m

Ammunition (Option 2)

Name 3UOF8

Type 305 HE rounds

Caliber 30 mm

Cartridge 30 Ã 165

Muzzle Velocity 960 m/s

Basic Load INA ea

Lethal Radius 5.95 m2

Charge Type A-IX-2

Note A high-explosive incendiary round with A-670M nose fuze.The fuze produces a 0.15 millisecond delay on impact, and a self-destruct mechanism detonating the projectile after 7.5 to 14.5 seconds of flight (3900â5300 m distance from muzzle).

Commander and Driver's Weapons System

Note The BMP-3 is equipped with a total of two 7.62mm PKT (Kalashnikov's Machine Gun)

System

Name 7.62mm PKT (Kalashnikov's Machine Gun)

Caliber 7.62 mm

Cartridge 7.62Ã54 mm

Function In use as a front-line infantry and vehicle-mounted weapon with Russia's armed forces.

Manufacturer Degtyaryov plant

Rate of Fire 650 rds/min

Effective Rate of Fire 250-300 rds/min

Weight (Gun Only) 9 kg

Weight (Tripod Only) 7.7 kg

Action Gas-operated, open bolt

Length (Overall) 1,203 mm

Length (Barrel) 605 mm

Feed System Non-disintegrating metal 50 round belts in 100 and 200/250 round ammunition boxes

Sights Tangent iron sights (default); Optical, Night-vision, Thermal and Radar sights

Effective Firing Range (With Sight Adjustments) 100-1,500 m

Maximum Firing Range 4,000 m

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Cartridge 7.62Ã54mmR km

Muzzle Velocity 855 m/s

Basic Load 2,500 ea

Accuracy of fire at 300 m 90 mm

Fire Control

Name 1K13-2

Computerized FCS Yes

Thermal Sight Vehicle Commander Optical sight 1PZ-10, a day/night vision device TKN-3MB

Thermal Sight Gunner 1K13-2 II night channel, 5.5x

Gunner Day Sights 1K13-2, 8x ; 1P3-10 antiaircraft, 2.6x; PPD-1 stand-by

Main Gun Stabilization Yes, 2E52 electro-mechanical stabiliser

Stabilizer Modes The stabiliser has three modes: automatic; semi-automatic; and guidance.

Ballistic Computer Yes, V539 ballistic computer

Rangfinder Laser

Infrared Searchlight Yes, IR searchlight OU-3GA2

Cross-Wind Sensor Yes

Minutes Of Angle (MOAs) 1.69

Protection

Armor Type Welded of aluminum alloy armor

Hull Armor (Front) Protection against 30 mm armor-piercing rounds.

Hull Armor (Sides and Back) Protection is against 14.5 mm armor-piercing rounds.

Turret Armor 30-35 mm

Applique Armor On Turret

Explosive Reactive Armor Available

Active Protection System Yes, Arena active protection system

Mine Clearing Yes, KMT-8 mine plow available

Self-Entrenching Blade Yes

NBC Protection Yes, Collective

Smoke Equipment 6 VEESS

Countermeasures System Shtora countermeasures systems

Automatic Fire Suppression System Yes