Basic Information

Name

BMD-1K Russian Airborne Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)

Designation

BMD-1K

Alternate Designation

BMD-1K

Equipment Type

Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)

Manufacturer

Volgograd Tractor Plant

Date of Introduction

1968

Description

BMD-1K (K stands for komandirskaya – command) – Command variant fitted with R-126 and R-107 transceivers, two Clothes Rail antennas and a generator box. It's sometimes called BMD-K. The BMD-1 is a family of light tracked AFVs designed to be deployed by parachute into the rear of an enemy position. The BMD-1 is a Soviet airborne amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle, which was introduced in 1969 and first seen by the West in 1970. BMD stands for Boyevaya Mashina Desanta (Боевая Машина Десанта, which literally translates to "Combat Vehicle of the Airborne"). It can be dropped by parachute and although it resembles the BMP-1 it is in fact much smaller. The BMD-1 was used as an IFV by the Soviet Army's airborne divisions. An improved variant of the BMD-1 was developed, the BMD-2. The BMD-1 also provided a basis for the BTR-D airborne multi-purpose tracked APC.

Ground Specifications

Crew 6

Mobility Type Tracked

Engine V-6 Diesel (240 hp)

Armor The BMD-1K is built from welded aluminum armor and the turret from welded steel.

Variants

BMD First production model.

BMD-1 Final production model. It has a dome-shaped NBC filter intake on the right hand side of the center of the hull roof.

BMD-1P BMD-1 modernization with its 9S428 ATGM launcher replaced by pintle-mounted 9P135M-1 ATGM launcher capable of firing 9M113 "Konkurs" (AT-5 Spandrel), 9M113M "Konkurs-M" (AT-5B Spandrel B), 9M111 "Fagot" (AT-4 Spigot) and 9M111-2 "Fagot" (AT-4B Spigot B) ATGMs. Entered service in 1977.

2S9 NONA Russian 120mm Self-Propelled Mortar (SPM) The 120 mm SO-120 2S9 Anona (Anemone) self-propelled gun/mortar (SPG/M) was first seen in public in May 1985 and is an airborne artillery assault vehicle that was developed to carry out two tactical functions.

2S9-1M The 2S9-1M is an upgraded variant of the baseline SO-120 2S9 Anona-S. The upgraded vehicle is designed to maintain the battlefield viability of the original SO-120 until a replacement - likely to be the Lotus fire support vehicle based on the BMD-4M - can be developed and introduced into service.

BMD-1PK (K stands for komandirskaya – command) – Command variant of BMD-1P. It is fitted with an additional R-123M radio set, a generator, the GPK-59 gyroscopic compass, the PRKhR radiation and chemical reconnaissance unit and two attachable tables. The machine gun mounted in the left corner of the bow of the hull has been eliminated as well as one of the seats. The crew consists of 6 men. The ammo load was reduced by one 9M113 "Konkurs" (AT-5 Spandrel) ATGM and 250 7.62 mm machine gun rounds

BMD-1M BMD-1 with smoke grenade launchers on the rear of the turret, improved ventilation and road wheels

BMD-2 (Ob'yekt 916) BMD-1 variant with a new one-man turret armed with stabilized 30 mm 2A42 multi-purpose autocannon and 7.62 mm PKT coaxial tank machine gun (mounted on the right hand side of the main gun). The vehicle carries 300 rounds for the main gun (180 AP and 120 HE) and 2,940 rounds for the machine gun. The gun has a maximum elevation of 75° and can be used to fire at air targets. The turret is also armed with pintle-mounted 9P135M launcher, on the right hand side of the roof of the turret, with semi-automatic control capable of firing SACLOS guided 9M113 "Konkurs" (AT-5 Spandrel) and 9M113M "Konkurs-M" (AT-5B Spandrel B) ATGMs. The new turret seats the gunner on the left hand side of the main gun. On top of the turret there's one single piece circular hatch opening to the front. Located in front of the said hatch is the gunner's sight which is the same one as the one used in BMP-2. Another gunner's sight is located on the left hand side of the main gun and moves in vertical planes along with it. It is a high angle of fire sight used when the gunner is aiming at air targets. The vehicle also has additional periscopes that provide it with vision on the sides. A white searchlight is mounted in front of the turret. The amount of bow mounted tank machine guns decreased from two to one. The right hand side bow mounted machine gun was preserved. NATO gave it the designation BMD M1981/1

BTR-D (Ob'yekt 925) Lengthened variant (with 6 rather than 5 road wheels), slightly up-armoured at the front. The BTR-D has no turret, but is armed with two bow-mounted machine guns PKB and can be fitted with pintle-mounted automatic grenade launchers (AGS-17, AGS-30 or AGS-57) and/or machine guns (PKM, 6P41, "Utyos" or "Kord"). Entered service in 1974 and can carry 10 passengers. Combat weight: 8.5 tons.

System

Alternative Designation BMD-1K

Type Airborne Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle

Manufacturer Volgograd Tractor Plant

Family 2S923

Crew The total crew is thought to be six personnel, including the driver and gunner.

Passengers INA. Radio Equipment Installed

Chassis S-120 and based on the aluminium hull of the BTR-D airborne multi-purpose tracked armoured personnel carrier

Displacement Time 30 min

Emplacement Time 30 min

Airborne Capable Yes

Parachute System PRSM-916 parachute system, or the PRSM-925 for combat deployments

Airdrop Height 500-1,500 m

Note The BMD-1K can be recognized from the BMD-1 by the two clothes rail antennas and a generator box located at the read of the vehicle

Dimensions

Length, Overall 5.40 m

Length, Hull 5.40 m

Width 2.63 m

Height 1.62 m

Weight, Combat 7,500 kg

Ground Pressure 0.57 kg/cm² (55,898 Pa) (8.11 psi)

Ground Clearance 0.45 m

Automotive

Engine Name 5D20

Engine Type V-6, water cooled, Diesel Engine

Engine Power 240 hp

Fuel Capacity 300 Liters

Suspension hydropneumatics

Cruising Range 320 km

Speed, Maximum Road 70 km/h

Speed, Average Cross 40 km/h

Speed Maximum Swim 10 km/h

Graident 60%

Side Slope 30%

Vertical Step 0.8 m

Trench 1.6 m

Fording Depth Amphibious

Communications

Primary Radio R-126

Secondary Radio R-107

Addiitiona Radios R-173 and/or R-168

Note This is a C2 vehicle for platoon and company level Commanders

Main Gun

System

Name 1 x 2A28 Grom

Type Smooth Bore Semi Automatic Gun

Caliber 73 mm

Manufacturer KBP

Length, Barrel 1,195 mm

Width 218 mm

Height 322 mm

Weight 115 kg

Electric Motor Yes, with a manual mechanical backup

Magazine Type forty-round mechanized conveyor double-row magazine

Max Rate of Fire 8-10 rds/min

Loader Type M3 electromechanical autoloader with ammunition conveyor

Max Elevation +33 deg

Min Elevation -4 deg

Traverse Range 360 deg

Traverse Left 180 deg

Traverse Right 180 deg

Note The BMD-1K can also fire ATGM launcher (three 9M14M or 9M113 or 9M111M ATGMs)

Ammunition (Option 1)

Type OG-15V HE-Frag

Caliber 73 mm

Muzzle Velocity 290 m/s

Weight 4.57 kg

Shell OG-9 shell with a 0.73 kg (1 lb 10 oz) TNT bursting charge kg

Basic Load 16 Total OG-15V HE-Frag Projectiles

Ammunition (Option 2)

Type PG-15V (HEAT)

Caliber 73 mm

Muzzle Velocity 400 m/s

Stabilizer Type fixed fin-stabilized rocket-assisted round.

Weight 3.47 kg

Shell 2.6 kg

Explosive Type RDX explosive charge in the warhead

Explosive Weight 0.322 kg

Penetration 280-350 mm

Note Once the projectile has travelled 10–20 m (33–66 ft), the rocket motor starts and accelerates it to 700 m/s (2,300 ft/s).

Basic Load 24 Total PG-15V Projectiles

Anti-Tank Guided Weapons (ATGW)

Name 1 x Kolomna Malyutka (Baby) 9M14

Type wire-guided ATGW

Minimum Range 500 m

Maximum Range 3,000 m

Maximum Speed (throughout the Flight) 130 m/s

Flight Time 25 sec

Warhead Type HEAT Warhead

Penetration 400 mm

Basic Load 1 x Kolomna Malyutka (Baby) 9M14

Coaxial Weapon System

System

Name 1 x PKT (Kalashnikov's Machine Gun)

Type General-Purpose Machine Gun

Caliber 7.62 mm

Max Rate of Fire 650 rds/min

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

In Service 1961-present

Manufacturer Degtyaryov plant

Length (Overall) 1,203 mm

Length (Barrel) 605 mm

Weight (Gun Only) 9 kg

Weight (Tripod Only) 7.7 kg

Action Gas-operated, open bolt

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

Sights Iron Sights

Note The PKT can be controlled remotely

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Muzzle Velocity 825 m/s

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

Basic Load 1,500 Rounds

Fire Control

Name INA

Computerized FCS Yes

Thermal Sight Vehicle Commander Yes, with three day vision devices

Thermal Sight Gunner Yes, dual-mode 1PN22M1 monocular periscopic sight mounted on the left side of the turret roof.

Driver Sight TNPO-170 periscope

Main Gun Stabilization No

Indirect Fire Yes

Direct Fire INA

Land Navigation Yes

Searchlight IR searchlight

Protection

Armor Type The BMD-1K is built from welded aluminum armor and the turret from welded steel.

Hull Armor It is thought to be capable of stopping 12.7 mm rounds fired at the front of the vehicle from a range of 200 m. The sides are likely to provide protection from 7.62 mm rounds fired at typical combat ranges. 15 mm at 50° lower hull front, 10 mm rest of the hull15 mm at 50° lower hull front; 10 mm rest of the hull.

Turret Armor 23 mm at 42° turret front; 19 mm at 36° turret side; 13 mm at 30° turret rear; 6 mm turret top

Gun Mantlet 33 mm

Applique Armor INA

Explosive Reactive Armor No

Active Protection System INA

Mine Clearing No

Self-Entrenching Blade Available, The BMD-1K carries the ubiquitous un-ditching beam that is present on most Soviet tracked vehicles.

NBC Protection PAZ NBC system

Smoke Equipment INA

Fire-Extinguishing System. PPO centralised ethylene-bromide fire-extinguishing system

Image Sources

Notes https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Verkhnyaya_Pyshma_Tank_Museum_2011_154.jpg; https://www.armyrecognition.com/russia_russian_army_light_armoured_vehicle_uk/bmd-1_airborne_infantry_armoured_fighting_vehicle_technical_data_sheet_specifications_information_uk.html;