Basic Information

Name

BMP-3 Russian Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)

Designation

BMP-3

Alternate Designation

BMP-3

Equipment Type

Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)

Manufacturer

Kurganmashzavod

Date of Introduction

1987

Description

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 100 mm main gun that fires HE to demolish buildings, can fire long-range ATGMs through its barrel, and a 30 mm autocannon 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, which has focused on deficiencies in the barrel-fired ATGM. The performance obtained from the 500 horsepower engine powering this 18 ton of vehicle compares favorably to the American Bradley, which has an engine of similar power for a 33 ton of vehicle. 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. The hull of the BMP-3 resembles the BMD Airborne Infantry Fighting Vehicle, with a new turret in the center of the vehicle. The troop compartment at the rear of the hull is accessed via a pair of doors in the hull rear. The BMP-3 is fully amphibious, propelled in the water by two water jets mounted at the rear of the hull.

Ground Specifications

Crew 3

Mobility Type Amphibious

Main Weapon 100 mm main gun

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 engine 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 a 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-man 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.

BT-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) Armored recovery vehicle with five-ton crane and 20/40 metric ton capacity winch.

BMP-3 "Khrizantema-S" 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.

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 specialized variants.

Hermes or TKB-841 An air-defense vehicle with high-velocity missiles and a radar system. Prototype. 2S31 Vena – 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. 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.

Vikhr UGV Unmanned ground vehicle based on BMD-3 equipped with a smaller turret armed with 2A72 autocannon, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and six anti-tank guided missiles 9M133M Kornet-M, three on each side of the turret.

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.

System

Alternative Designation BMP-3

Type Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)

Manufacturer Kurganmashzavod

Family BMP-3

Crew 3 ea

Passenger Capacity 7 ea

Fighting Module 2K23 Fighting Module

Dimensions

Length, Overall 7.14 m

Length, Hull 6.715 m

Width, Overall 3.23 m

Width, without Skirts 3.15 m

Height, Overall 2.65 m

Height to Turret Roof 2.30 m

Height, Axis of Fire 2.02 m

Weight 18,700 kg

Ground Clearance 0.190 m

Ground Pressure 0.61 kg/cm² (5,9821 Pa) (8.68 psi)

Automotive

Engine Name UTD-29M

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

Engine Power 500 hp

Electrical 27 V

Suspension hydropneumatic shock-absorbers

Cruising Range 600 km

Speed, Maximum Road 70 km/h

Speed, Average Cross 45 km/h

Speed Maximum Swim 10 km/h

Gradient 60%

Side Slope 30%

Vertical Step 0.8 m

Trench 2.5 m

Fording Depth Amphibious

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 1 x 2A70 (100mm) Rifle Gun

Type Rifle Gun

Caliber 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 Right 180 deg

Traverse Left 180 deg

Fire on the Move Yes

Maximum Aimed Range 5,000 m

Maximum Effective Range (Day) 4,000 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

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

Basic Load 40 Total Rounds of any 100mm Russian Projectile

Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)

System

Name 9M117 Bastion (AT-10)

Type Anti-Tank Guided Missile

Caliber 100 mm

In Service 1983-present

Charge Type Reduced Explosive Charge

Muzzle Velocity 400-500 m/s

Length 1,048 mm

Weight 27 kg

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

Basic Load 8 x 9M117 Bastion (AT-10) ATGM

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

Coaxial Weapon System #1

System

Name 1 x 2A72, 30mm Automatic Cannon

Type Autocannon

Caliber 30 mm

Loader Type Dual-belt feed

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

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 × 165mm

Muzzle Velocity 1,120 m/s

Penetrator Type tungsten alloy sub-calibre penetrator

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

Basic Load 40 ea

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-type rounds

Caliber 30 mm

Cartridge 30 × 165mm

Muzzle Velocity 960 m/s

Lethal Radius 5.95 m2

Charge Type A-IX-2

Basic Load 40 ea

Note A high-explosive incendiary round with A-670M nose fuse. The fuse 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).

Coaxial Weapon System #2

System

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

Type General-Purpose Machine Gun

Caliber 7.62 mm

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

Length 1,203 mm

Barrel Length 605 mm

Weight (Gun Only) 9 kg

Weight (Tripod Only) 7.7 kg

Action Gas-operated, open bolt

Muzzle Velocity 855 m/s

Rate of Fire 650 rds/min

Effective Rate of Fire 250-300 rds/min

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

Maximum Firing Range 4,000 m

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

Sights Iron Sights, Optics (Optional)

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Cartridge 7.62×54mm

Basic Load 2,500 ea

Auxiliary Weapon System

Note The BMP-3 is equipped with 2 × bow-mounted 7.62 mm PKT machine guns.

System

Name 2 x 7.62mm PKT (Kalashnikov's Machine Gun)

Type General-Purpose Machine Gun

Caliber 7.62 mm

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

Action Gas-operated, open bolt

Rate of Fire 650 rds/min

Effective Rate of Fire 250-300 rds/min

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

Maximum Firing Range 4,000 m

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

Sights Iron Sights, Optics (Optional)

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Cartridge 7.62×54mm

Muzzle Velocity 855 m/s

Accuracy of fire at 300 m 90 mm

Basic Load 2,500 ea

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 MOA

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 × turret mounted 81 mm smoke-grenade launcher (2 × 3)

Countermeasures System Shtora countermeasures systems

Automatic Fire Suppression System Yes

CVI: HATS

Hull Trim vane folds down. Driver hatch located at front-center of hull. Has a square rear end with engine exhaust on rear right-side of vehicle. Small hydro propulsion water jets visible on rear of vehicle.

Armament Coupled 100mm long-barrel cannon with closely-coupled, coaxially-mounted 30mm autocannon. Bow gunner's hatch and 7.62mm medium machine guns mounted on the front left and right sides.

Turret Flat and wide, side-by-side, two-man turret. Shape of a frying pan. Gunner’s optics.

Suspension 6-road wheels, unevenly-spaced. Rear sprocket drive supported track.

Image Sources

Notes https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q796368; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BMP-3_infantry_fighting_vehicle_at_Engineering_Technologies_2012_01.jpg; https://greatmultiverse.fandom.com/wiki/BMP-3_APC;