Basic Information

Name

BMR-3M Russian Mine Clearing Vehicle

Designation

BMR-3M

Alternate Designation

BMR-3M

Equipment Type

Mine Clearing Vehicle

Manufacturer

Uralvagonzavod

Date of Introduction

2000

Description

The Russian BMR-3M is a T-90 hull with the turret replaced with a superstructure housing the crew and other mine-clearing equipment. Attached to the front of the vehicle are two arms each with solid steel wheels that whilst driving over mines, their weight detonates them and thanks to their thickness are not damaged, allowing the vehicle to continue along its path with other tanks such as the T-90 following it. The new mine-clearing vehicle is mainly intended for road mine-clearing while escorting convoys.

Ground Specifications

Crew 2

Mobility Type Tracked

Main Weapon 12.7 mm Kord heavy machinegun

Engine Diesel (840 hp)

Active Protection Yes

NBC Protection Yes

Range 500.0 km

Variants

BMR-3MA; Vepr The modern BMR-3MA demining machine is another version of the development of a design created several decades ago. In the past, similar machines BMR-3 and BMR-3M were developed and produced, and in the tenth years, the Vepr product was developed to replace them. At the same time, the development of the direction did not stop, and the BMR-3MA has already become the basis for the engineering robotic complex. Date of introduction of the BMR-3A is 2017. Since entering service, the BMR-3MA has repeatedly participated in various exercises of the ground forces and demonstrated their capabilities. The vehicle is fitted with a new one-piece mine sweep, an enhanced climate control unit and a modern communication system with the crew compartment protected by composite materials. The BMR-3MA is based on the T-90 main battle tank. The BMR-3MA has passed all the qualification trials in accordance with the technical requirements. The BMR-3MA is fitted with Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA); anti-mine armored bottom protection; Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN); and ballistic protection provided by the steel hull. The crew of the BMR-3MA consists of two people, a driver, and a commander. When demining, three sappers are in the car. The BMR-3MA is equipped with a turret with a Kord heavy machine gun. There is also a set of smoke grenade launchers for firing into the front hemisphere. The BMR-3MA was demonstrated at exhibitions with a modern TMT-S type trawl. The same product is used during real demining in the Donbass. The TMT-S tank minesweeper is compatible with all modern domestic MBTs and engineering vehicles. On the trawl frame there are two rows of metal rollers for impact on mines with a push fuse. There is also an electromagnetic prefix for initiating the detonation of mines with a magnetic target sensor and a device for combating anti-aircraft mines. The TMT-S can destroy anti-personnel and anti-tank mines. The rollers withstand up to 10 explosions of TM-62 type mines.

BMR-3MS The BMR-3MS is the export variant. It’s a heavy MCV that features an extremely high level of anti-mine protection compared with the mine clearance platforms based on armored personnel carriers (such as the M1132 ESV by General Dynamics) or mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles such as Husky 2G route clearance system by South Africa`s DCD. It features a protection level like the one of the T-90 MBT and reinforced with the Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armor. The vehicle is especially effective against remote control improvised explosive devices (IED), owing to an integrated wide-band jammer and a portable one. The BMR-3MS can transport up to three engineer dismounts. According to UVZ, the BMR-3MS can eliminate all types of anti-tank, track- and belly-mounted mines fitted with contact mechanical, remote magnetic and remote-controlled fuzes. The combination of the KMT-7 mine plow with an electromagnetic unit, two jammers and a heavy belly protection allows route clearance at a speed of 12 km/h. The vehicle is armed with a 12.7 mm Kord heavy machinegun and carries a number of subsystems including a manual smoke screening system, a collective nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological (NBCR) protection system, a smoke generating system, a deep water fording kit, a self-digging system and a climate control unit. The BMR-3MS is believed to reflect the best experience of counter-mine activities. It provides extremely efficient protection to both crew and dismounts, being able to deactivate almost all types of mines on the modern battlefield.

System

Alternative Designation BMR-3M

Type Mine Clearing Vehicle

Manufacturer Uralvagonzavod Production Association State Unitary Enterprise

Family BMR-3M

In Service 2000-Present

Crew 2 (Driver and Commander)

Passenger Capacity 3 ea

Mine Roller System

Mine Roller KTM-7 Mine Rollers

Chains Chains are fitted between the rollers to detonate tilt-mast fuzes

Single Roller Path A single roller clears 0.8 m wide track

Electromagnetic Countermine System Yes, which detonates magnetically fuzed mines

Pressure Activated Fuse Mines Capable Yes, Clears Pressure Activated Fuse Mines

Bottom Mines fitted with Rod-type Fuses Capable Yes, Clears Bottom Mines fitted with Rod-type Fuses

Magnetic Proximity Fuses Capable Yes, Clears Magnetic Proximity Fuses

Soil Planted Mines Capable yes, Clears Soil Planted Mines

Mine Clearing Speed up to 12 km/h

Mine Detection Set (Hand-held) 2 ea

Dimensions

Length 6.93 m

Width 3.78 m

Height 2.93 m

Weight, Combat 48 tons

Automotive

Engine Name V-84MS

Engine Type Diesel

Engine Power 840 hp

Range 500 km

Speed, Maximum Road 50 km/h

Speed, Average Cross INA

Speed Maximum Swim Not Amphibious km/h

Mine Clearing Speed up to 12 km/h

Gradient 60 %

Side Slope 30 %

Vertical Step 0.8 m

Trench 2.8 m

Fording Depth (Without Preparation) 1.2 m

Fording Depth (With Preparation) 5 m

Communications

Primary Radio INA

Radio Jammer Yes, which prevents detonation of radio-controlled explosives

Main Gun

Note The 12.7mm NSV is remotely-operated and can be used to destruct visible mines laying on the surface or in soil

System

Name 1 x NSV (Russian НСВ Никитина-Соколова-Волкова)

Type Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun

Caliber 12.7 mm

Manufacturer "Metallist", Uralsk, Kazakh SSR, Crvena ZastavaSerbia

Length (Total) 1,560 mm

Weight (Gun Only) 25 kg

Weight (On Tripod) 41 kg

Weight (50-Round Belt) 11 kg

Action Gas Operated

Max Rate of Fire 700-800 rds/min

Feed System 50-Round Belt

Sights Iron Sights

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 12.7 mm

Cartridge 12.7×108mm

Muzzle Velocity 845 m/s

Effective Firing Range (vs. Air Targets) 1,500 m

Effective Firing Range (vs. Ground Targets) 2,000 m

Basic Load 500 ea

Fire Control

Laser Target Desinator INA

Protection

Armor, Hull New all-welded superstructure as well as ERA Blocks. The superstructure provides protection against small arms fire, artillery shell splinters and mine fragment debris

Armor, Belly Composite construction, the belly of the BMR-3M can withstand anti-tank mine blast anywhere under the hull

Applique Armor Avaialble

Active Protection System Yes

Mine Clearing Yes

Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) Yes

Self-Entrenching Blade No

NBC Protection Yes

Smoke Equipment 2 x banks of 81 mm electrically operated, forward-firing smoke dischargers are mounted either side of the superstructure.

Blast-Suppressing Seats Yes, for the Commander and Driver

Life Support System Yes. It is reported that the crew along with 3 passengers can stay inside the BMR-3M for 2 days

Note The BMR-3M is based on the T-90 main battle tank chassis. The turret has been removed and new all-welded superstructure has been fitted. This mine clearing vehicle is fitted with Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) blocks.

Image Sources

Notes https://syria.mil.ru/en/syria/bulletins/bulletin/more.htm?id=12195281@egNews; https://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2020/05/russian-robots-from-combat-to.html; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Russia_Arms_Expo_2013_(531-10).jpg;