Basic Information

Name

BMD-KShM Russian Command Post Vehicle

Designation

BMD-KShM

Alternate Designation

BMD-KShM

Equipment Type

Automated Command and Control (C2) System

Manufacturer

Volgograd Tractor Plant

Date of Introduction

1969

Description

The BMD-KShM: command post vehicle is a variant of the BMD-1. The BMD-1 is an airborne infantry tracked armored vehicle, which entered the service to the Russian army airborne units in 1969 and was the first shown to the public during a parade held in Moscow in November 1973. The vehicle was called the M1970 before its Russian designation became known. Development started in 1965 and limited production began in 1968 and ended in 1969. After operational trials, it was deployed in limited numbers by 1969 and the serial production started in 1970, although the vehicle weight 500 kg more than what the requirements stated (7.5 tonnes and 13.3 tonnes when loaded with equipment). In the late 1970s a new modernized vehicle received a designation BMD-1P following the adoption of the new 9P135M-1 ATGM launcher instead of 9S428 ATGM launcher, firing the 9M113 "Konkurs" (AT-5 Spandrel). In 1983, based on the combat experience in Afghanistan a decision was made to produce a new variant of the BMD with a weapon capable of engaging targets such as those faced by the airborne troops in that conflict. This resulted in "Ob'yekt 916" which later became BMD-2. A lengthened chassis of BMD-1 served as a basis for the BTR-D airborne multi-purpose tracked APC which itself served as a basis for many specialized airborne vehicles. The BMD-1 is always currently used by the Russian airborne troops. BMD-1 and BMD-1PK IFVs are used by Russian airborne units of KFOR. BMD-1 IFVs were used by Russian airborne units of SFOR.

Ground Specifications

Crew 2

Engine V-6 Diesel (240 hp)

Armor Welded Aluminum Alloy

Variants

BMD First production model.

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.

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.

2S9-1 Russian 120mm Self-Propelled Mortar (SPM) INA

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 a 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 a 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-armored 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-KShM

Type Command Post Vehicle; Airborne Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)

Manufacturer Volgograd Tractor Plant

Family 2S923

In Service 1969-Present

Crew 2 (driver, gunner)

Passengers 6 troopers (including commander and machine gunner seated next to the driver and 3 men in the troop compartment)

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-1 can be distinguished from all other BMD variants firstly by the large gun that is its main armament, and secondly by its road wheels that have a star-shaped centre and dual rims.

Dimensions

Length 5.1 m

Width 2.53 m

Height 1.97 m

Weight, Combat 7.5 tons

Ground Pressure INA

Automotive

Engine Name 5D20

Engine Type V-6, water cooled, Diesel Engine

Engine Power 240 hp

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

Type 1 x R-173 VHF Radio

Note There is no information available that outlines what type of Command and Control Equipment is installed in the BMD-KShM.

Main Weapon System

System

Name 1 x 2A28 Grom 73mm Smooth Bore Semi-Automatic Gun

Type Smooth Bore Semi-Automatic Gun

Caliber 73 mm

Manufacturer KBP

Length, Barrel 1,195 mm

Height 322 mm

Weight 115 kg

Width 218 mm

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

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

Basic Load 24 Total PG-15V Projectiles

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).

Anti-Tank Guided Weapons (ATGW)

Name 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

Coaxial Weapon System

System

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

Weight (Gun Only) 9 kg

Weight (Tripod Only) 7.7 kg

Length (Overall) 1,203 mm

Length (Barrel) 605 mm

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 ea

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 INA

Indirect Fire Yes

Direct Fire INA

Land Navigation Yes

Searchlight IR searchlight

Protection

Armor Type Welded aluminium alloy

Gun Mantlet 33 mm

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

Hull Armor 15 mm at 50° lower hull front, 10 mm rest of the hull

Applique Armor INA

Explosive Reactive Armor No

Active Protection System INA

Mine Clearing No

Self-Entrenching Blade Available

NBC Protection 1 x 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:%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%BE-%D1%88%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5_%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8B_%D0%B2_%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC_%D0%BC%D1%83%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%B5_%E2%80%94_2.jpg;