Basic Information

Name

BMD-3 Russian Airborne Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)

Designation

BMD-3

Alternate Designation

BMD-3

Equipment Type

Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)

Manufacturer

Volgograd Tractor Plant

Date of Introduction

1990

Description

The BMD-3 (Boyevaya Mashina Desanta, Russian "Боевая Машина Десанта", literally "Combat Vehicle of the Airborne") is an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) originating from the former Soviet Union. The BMD-3 was designed to address the flaws in the BMD-1 and BMD-2 designs. This armored fighting vehicle is one of the lightest in its class and is intended to be a fire support platform for use by airborne and air assault units. The primary armament is a 30 mm 2A42 autocannon capable of firing different types of ammunition which include high-explosive and armor-piecing. The BMD-3 possesses multiple secondary weapons such as the 9M113 Konkurs missile and the AGS-17 grenade launcher to defeat a wide range of targets from enemy infantry to other armored fighting vehicles.

Ground Specifications

Crew 3

Engine Diesel (450 hp)

NBC Protection Yes

Variants

BMD-3K The commander variant of the BMD-3 adopted by the Russian Army in 1996. Mass production of this vehicle was never initiated.

2S25 Sprut-SD (Object 952) A self-propelled anti-tank gun that entered service in 2005. This vehicle has the chassis of the BMD-3 and is operated by a crew of three. The main armament is the 125 mm 2A75 smoothbore gun which is a variant of the 2A46 smoothbore gun series used by Soviet main battle tanks since the T-64. It can fire the ammunition of the 2A46 including the 9M119 Svir. The chassis has seven road wheels on each side instead of five and the engine is now the 2V-06-2S with a power of 510 hp.

BTR-MD “Rakushka” (Object 955) A multi-role transport vehicle with bigger hull and no turret. This type can be used to transport troops, fuel, ammunition and wounded personnel. It also serves as the basis for a new range of specialised vehicles for the Russian airborne forces, including a mortar platform and an ambulance.

BTR-MDM A modernized version with the same improvements as the BMD-4M.

RKhM-5 (Object 958) A chemical reconnaissance vehicle introduced in 2011 and is fitted with the same specialized equipment as the BTR-80 version known as the RKhM-4. The turret has been removed; the RKhM-5 has a fixed superstructure with a machine gun turret. The hull is larger allowing it to transport troops, fuel, ammunition and wounded personnel

BMD-4 (Object 960) Originally designated as the BMD-3M, this vehicle has a modified chassis with new turret known as the "Bakhcha-U". The weaponry bears greater similarity to the BMP-3. This new armament consists of: a 100 mm 2A70 rifled main gun, a 30mm 2A72 autocannon, a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, and new "Ramka" fire control system. The bow-mounted AGS-17 has been removed and is replaced with an AGS-30. BMD-4s are newly built or upgraded BMD-3s. The BMD-4 is no longer being purchased for the Russian troops, in favor of the BMD-4M.

BMD-4M The upgraded variant with a new chassis and the 500 hp UTD-29 engine of the BMP-3. This version will be produced by Kurganmashzavod (KTZ) instead of VgTZ. The vehicle was presented to the VDV in March 2008. According to KTZ, series production could have started in 2009. The BMD-4M was evaluated by the VDV

BMM-D A command post vehicle and a recovery vehicle. Some variants will have a longer chassis with seven road wheels and probably the same 510 hp engine as the 2S25.

System

Alternative Designation BMD-3

Type Airborne Infantry Fighting Vehicle

Manufacturer Volgograd tractor factory

Family BMD-3

Crew 3 ea

Passenger Capacity 4 ea

Amphibious Yes, The BMD-3 is amphibious and propelled in the water by two water-jets mounted on both sides at the rear of the vehicle

Buoyancy Reserve More than 30% of its own displacement

Dimensions

Length, Overall 6.36 m

Length, Hull 6.00 m

Width 3.134 m

Height 2.17 m

Weight 13,200 kg

Ground Clearance 0.45 m

Ground Pressure 0.54 kg/cm² (52,956 Pa) (7.68 psi)

Automotive

Engine Name 2V-06 (Some models have been replaced with the BMD-4M Engine)

Engine Type Diesel

Engine Power 450 hp

Fuel Capacity 450 liters

Range, Land 500 km

Range, Water 80 km

Speed, Maximum Road 71 km/h

Speed, Average Cross 40 km/h

Speed Maximum Swim 10 km/h

Gradient 60%

Side Slope 30%

Vertical Step 0.8 m

Trench 1.8 m

Fording Depth Amphibious

Communications

Primary Radio R-173

Secondary Radio Digital R-168

Main Gun

System

Name 1 × turret-mounted 30 mm 2A42 Autocannon

Type Autocannon

Caliber 30 mm

Manufacturer Tulamashzavod

Length (Total) 3.02 m

Barrel Length 2.4 m

Weight 115 kg

Action Gas-operated

Barrels 1 ea

Max Rate of Fire (Low) 200-300 rds/min

Maximum Elevation +75 deg

Minumum Elevation -5 deg

Traverse Range 360 deg

Traverse Left 180 deg

Traverse Right 180 deg

Max Rate of Fire (High) 550-800 rds/min

Effective Firing Range 2,000 m

Maximum Firing Range 4,000 m

Feed System Twin Feed

Ammunition (Option 1)

Name 3UOF8

Type HEI

Caliber 30 mm

Cartridge 30 × 165 mm

Projectile Weight 389 g

Bursting Charge 49 g

Muzzle Velocity 960 m/s

Basic Load 860 Rounds

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 (3900–5300 m distance from muzzle).

Ammunition (Option 2)

Name M929

Type APFSDS-T

Caliber 30 mm

Cartridge 30 × 165 mm

Muzzle Velocity 1,260 m/s

Projectile Weight 235 g

Bursting Charge None

Basic Load 860 Rounds

Note A sub-caliber fin-stabilized discarding sabot round with tracer from Belgian Mecar, with tungsten alloy penetrator. Penetration: 50 mm RHA steel at 60 degree impact at 1,000 m range

Ammunition (Option 3)

Name 3UBR8

Type APDS

Caliber 30 mm

Cartridge 30 × 165 mm

Projectile Weight 304 g

Bursting Charge None

Muzzle Velocity 1,120 m/s

Basic Load 860 Rounds

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

Grenade Launcher

System

Name 1 x AGS-17 Plamya, 30mm Automatic Grenade Launcher

Type Automatic Grenade Launcher

Caliber 30 mm

Manufacturer Molot plant

In Service 1970-Present

Proliferation Widely Proliferated

Variants AG-17A helicopter-mounted version

Length 840 mm

Weight 31 kg

Rate of Fire 400 rds/min

Effective Firing Range 8,00 - 1,700 m

Maximum Effective Range 1,700 m

Action Blowback

Feed system 29 grenades belt

Sights Adjustable iron sights, optional mount required for optical sights

Ammunition (Option 1)

Name VOG-17M

Type 30mm Grenade

Cartridge 30×29mm grenade

Warhead High explosive fragmentation warhead.

Muzzle velocity 185 m/s

Effective Firing Range 8,00 - 1,700

Basic Load 40 ea

Ammunition (Option 2)

Name VOG-30

Type 30mm Grenade

Cartidge 30×29mm grenade

Muzzle velocity 185 m/s

Effective Firing Range 8,00 - 1,700 m

Basic Load 40 ea

Coaxial Weapon System

System

Name 1 x PKT 7.62mm (Kalashnikov's Machine Gun) General-Purpose Machine Gun

Caliber 7.62 mm

Type General-Purpose Machine Gun

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

In Service 1961-present

Manufacturer Degtyaryov plant

Proliferation 1 Million +

Length (Overall) 1,203 mm

Length (Barrel) 605 mm

Weight (Gun Only) 9 kg

Weight (Tripod Only) 7.7 kg

Max Rate of Fire 650 rds/min

Effective Rate of Fire 250-300 rds/min

Action Gas-operated, open bolt

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

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

Maximum Firing Range 4,000 m

Sights Iron Sights

Note The 7.62 PKT can be controlled remotely and is slaved to the main gun,

Ammunition (Option 1)

Name 57-N-323S

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Cartridge 7.62×54 mm

Muzzle Velocity 855 m/s

Accuracy of fire at 300 m 90 mm

Basic Load 2,500 ea

Ammunition (Option 2)

Name 7N13 (AP)

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Cartridge 7.62×54mmR

Muzzle Velocity 855 m/s

Basic Load 2,500 ea

Accuracy of fire at 300 m 90 mm

Ammunition (Option 3)

Name 7BZ3 (API)

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Cartridge 7.62×54mm

Muzzle Velocity 834 m/s

Basic Load 2,500 ea

Accuracy of fire at 300 m 150 mm

Tank Commander's Weapon System

System

Name 1 x RPK-74 (AK-47) General-Purpose Machine Gun

Type General-Purpose Machine Gun

Caliber 5.45 mm

Manufacturer Vyatskiye Polyany Machine-Building Plant

In Service 1974-Present

Proliferation Widely Proliferated

Length 1,060 mm

Barrel Length 590 mm

Weight (RPK) 4.7 kg

Weight (RPKS) 5.1 kg

Max Rate of Fire 600 rds/min

Action Gas operated, rotating bolt; closed bolt

Effective Firing Range (with sight adjustments) 100-1,000 m

Maximum Firing Range 3,150 m

Feed system 30-, 45-round box magazine, 100-round plastic drum magazine, belt ammunition (with side mounted belt feed device)

Sights Iron sights: semi-shrouded front post and rear sliding tangent with an adjustable notch Sight radius: 555 mm (21.9 in)

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 5.45 mm

Cartridge 5.45×39mm M74

Muzzle Velocity 960 m/s

Basic Load 2,500 ea

Anti-Tank Guided Weapon (ATGW)

Name 1 x 9M113 Konkurs (AT-5 Spandrel)

Type Soviet SACLOS wire-guided anti-tank missile.

Manufacturer Tula Machinery Design Bureau (Tula KBP) – Tulsky Oruzheiny Zavod

In Service 1974-Present

Proliferation Algeria– used by mechanized infantry units Armenia Azerbaijan Egypt – mounted on Fahd armoured personnel carriers purchased in 1990s Belarus The launcher is been locally produced and upgraded. Bulgaria Croatia Cuba – not confirmed Czech Republic Eritrea[ Finland – known as PstOhj 82M, fired from 9P135M-1 launchers (withdrawn from service) Georgia Guinea Hungary Indonesia – mounted on BVP-2 infantry fighting vehicles operated by the marine corps India – 15,000 Konkurs-M, ordered in 2008 for Rs 1,380-crore. Another 10,000 Konkurs-M ordered for US$250 million in 2012. A new contract was signed in 2019 for USD 110 mln. Iran– produced domestically as Tosan-1 Iraq Ivory Coast (reported) Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Morocco[ Mongolia Moldova– used on BRDM-2 North Korea – produced domestically Pakistan – Used on Viper infantry fighting vehicle Peru Romania Russia – about 300 Konkurs-M complexes delivered annually in the last years (2014) Slovakia Turkmenistan Turkey Syria Ukraine Houthis – Tosan version

Varaints 9M113M,Towsan-1, Tosan, Towsan, or M113, 9N131M1, 9N131M2-1

Length 1,150 mm

Diameter 135 mm

Weight (Missile) 14.6 kg

Weight (9P135 Launching Post) 22.5 kg

Warhead Weight 2.7 kg

Detonation Mechanism Contact

Engine Solid-fuel rocket

Wingspan 468 mm

Maximum Operational Range 4 km

Minimum Operational Range 70 m

Speed 208 m/s

Guidance system Wire-guided SACLOS

Steering system Two control surfaces

Launch platform Individual, vehicle

Penetration 600mm of RHA

Basic Load 1 x 9M113 Konkurs (AT-5 Spandrel)

Fire Control

Name INA

Computerized FCS INA

Thermal Sight Vehicle Commander Yes, 1PZ-3 with a TNP-165A designator

Thermal Sight Gunner Yes, BPK-1-42 with a TNPT-1 designator and a TKN-3B binocular sight

Main Gun Stabilization Yes, 2E36-5

Periscopes TNPO-170A periscopes and the TNPO-350B night vision periscope.

Protection

Hull Armor The protection offered is thought to be sufficient to stop up to 12.7 mm rounds fired at the front of the hull and at least 7.62 mm rounds fired at the sides.

Turret Armor INA

Applique Armor Available

Explosive Reactive Armor No

Active Protection System INA

Mine Clearing No

Self-Entrenching Blade No

NBC Protection Yes

Smoke Equipment Yes, three 81 mm electrically-operated smoke grenade dischargers. The BMD-3 ACV can lay its own smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into the exhaust.

IR Signature INA

Fire Suppression System Yes

Image Sources

Notes https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BMD-3_3.jpg; https://www.ebay.com/itm/154492144626; https://live.warthunder.com/post/904002/en/?comment=3448994;