The design of the BMP-3 or Obyekt 688M can be traced back to the Obyekt 685 light tank prototype with 100 mm gun 2A48-1 from 1975. This vehicle didn't enter series production but the chassis, with a new engine, was used for the next-generation infantry combat vehicle Obyekt 688 from A. Blagonravov's design bureau. The Ob. 688 weapons configuration—an externally-mounted 30 mm gun and twin Konkurs ATGM launcher—was rejected; instead the new 2K23 armament system was selected. The resulting BMP-3 was developed in the early 1980s and entered service with the Soviet army officially in 1987. It was shown for the first time in public during the 1990 May Parade and was given the NATO code ICV M1990/1.
Armament and equipment
The BMP-3, nicknamed Troyka, is one of the most heavily armed infantry combat vehicles in service, fitted with a low velocity 2A70 100 mm rifled gun, which can fire conventional HE-Frag shells or 9M117 (AT-10 Stabber) ATGMs (40 HE rounds and 8 ATGM are carried), a 2A72 dual feed autocannon with 500 rounds and a rate of fire of 350 to 400 rpm, and a 7.62 mm machine gun with 2,000 rounds, all mounted coaxially in the turret. The main gun elevates from -5º to +60º. There are also two 7.62 mm bow machine guns, again with 2,000 rounds each. The BMP-3 is capable of engaging targets out to 5,000–6,000 meters with its ATGM weapon system 9K116-3 Basnya. If the missile launcher is destroyed, missile guidance ceases and the missile may miss its target. The minimum engagement distance, flight time and vulnerability of launcher are typical of command-guided, rather than fire-and-forget, ATGM systems; most systems in service are command-guided.
According to the manufacturer's web-site, all weapons can be fired from the halt, on the move, and afloat with the same effectiveness. The ability to hit targets on the move with missiles was successfully demonstrated during competitive evaluations in the UAE in 1991.
The turret is fitted with the 2K23 system which consists of an automatic loader, a ballistic computer 1V539, a cross-wind sensor, a 2E52-2 stabilising system, the 1D16-3 laser range finder, the 1K13-2 gunner's sight/guidance device and the PPB-1 gunner's sight. The commander has a combined optical sight 1PZ-10, a day/night vision device TKN-3MB and an IR search light OU-3GA2.
The vehicle also carries one RPG-7, five RPG-18's, two MANPADS launchers (Strela-3 or Igla) and 10 F1 hand grenades.
Early models were powered by a 450 hp engine UTD-29, but most BMP-3's are equipped with the 500 hp UTD-29M version. Standard equipment includes five firing ports with associated vision blocks, a tranceiver R-173, a receiver R-173P, a GO-27 radiation and chemical agent detector, an FVU filtration system, an automatic fire extinguisher and six smoke grenade launchers 81 mm 902V "Tucha".
The vehicle has an unconventional layout. The engine is in the back of the vehicle to the right (unlike in most other IFV which have the engine located forward in the hull). As a result the driver is seated forward in the hull (in the center) together with two infantrymen (one on each side of the driver). The vehicle has a double bottom and the engine is located under the floor of the vehicle (troops enter/leave the vehicle over the engine). In an effort to improve battlefield survivability the fuel tanks are also located in the floor of the vehicle. The remaining five infantrymen are seated aft of the two man turret. The BMP-3 can lay its own smoke screen by injecting fuel into the exhaust.
The hull and turret are made of aluminium, with the front being provided with a layer of spaced armor. Over the frontal 60 degree arc the vehicle is protected against 30 mm armor-piercing rounds of 2A42 gun at a range of 300 m. An ERA armour kit is currently available providing increased protection. Although using ERA on a IFV is considered problematic by some experts since it poses a threat to friendly troops located in the vicinity off the vehicle.
Variants
Russian Federation
- BMP-3 - Basic version, as described.
- BMP-3M - KBP and Kurganmashzavod have upgraded the vehicle with a new turret and engines. The upgraded vehicle is called the BMP-3M and the new turret includes a new automatic fire control system with digital computer, new BZS1 gunner's sight with SAGEM thermal imager and laser illuminator, TKN-AI commander's periscope with laser infrared illuminator and new ammunition loading system. The BMP-3M will also be able to fire ammunition types including a new 100 mm laser-guided projectiles, new 100 mm HE-FRAG (high explosive fragmentation) rounds and new 30 mm APDS (armour piercing discarding sabot) rounds. Additional passive armour protection is effective against 12.7 mm armour-piercing rounds from a range of 50m. Explosive reactive armour is available as an option. The new uprated engine is the UTD-32, which is rated at 660 hp. There are actually several different M models, some fitted with additional armour, "Arena-E" or "Shtora-1" protection system, air conditioner etc. The latest version is also known as BMP-4 and is fitted with the "Bakhcha-U" turret from the BMD-4. It entered state trials in 1999.
- BMMP (bojevaya mashina morskoj pekhoti) - Version for naval infantry, fitted with the turret of the BMP-2.
- BMP-3K (komandnyi) - Tactical command variant, includes additional radios R-173, an AB-1 APU, a navigation device TNA-4-6 and the "Ainet" round fuzing capability. The BMP-3K lacks the bow machine guns and has its whip antennas mounted on the rear hull. Crew: 3+3.
- BMP-3F - Specially designed for operations at sea, with improved seaworthiness and buoyancy, and high fire accuracy at sea force 2. This can endure continuous amphibious operation for seven hours.
- BRM-3K "Rys" (Ob.501) (boyevaya razvedivatel'naya mashina) - Reconnaissance variant with 1PN71 thermal sight (3.7x/11x, 3 km range), 1PN65 second-generation image intensifier (7x, 1.2-1.5 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 only of the stabilized 30 mm gun 2A72 (600 rounds) and a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun (2,000 rounds). Combat weight: 19 t, crew: 6.
- BREM-L "Beglianka" (Ob.691) (bronirovannaya remontno-evakuatsionnaya mashina) - Armoured recovery vehicle with five-tone crane and 20/40 metric ton capacity winch. Photos
- 9P157 "Krizantema-S" - Anti-tank version with two supersonic 9M123 Khrizantema (AT-15) missiles. Photos
- 9P162 "Kornet-T" - Anti-tank version with 9M133 Kornet (AT-14) missile system.
- 2S31 Vena - Fire support vehicle with a 120 mm mortar
- DZM "Vostorg-2" (dorozhno-zemlerojnaya mashina) - Combat engineer vehicle with a dozerblade and excavating bucket. Prototype.
- UR-93 (ustanovka razminirovaniya) - Mine clearing system. Prototype.
- UNSh (unifitsirovannyj shassi) - Basic chassis for specialised variants.
- KhTM (khodovoj trenazhor) - Driver trainer.
- Hermes - Air-defence vehicle with high-velocity missiles and radar system. Prototype.
The turret of the BMP-3 has been fitted to the Patria Armoured Modular Vehicle.
Operators
The majority of BMP-3s are in use outside of Russia with Abu Dhabi (the United Arab Emirates) being the largest foreign operator:
Russia - 550
Kuwait - 120
United Arab Emirates - 598 with "Namut" thermal sight and other modifications. Might be further upgraded with modular armor "Kaktus" and UTD-32 engine.
South Korea - 70 ordered in 1996. All vehicles in service.
Greece - 450 BMP-3HEL under negotiations 
Azerbaijan - 4 (total of 60 on order)
Cyprus - 43
Indonesia - 17 BMP-3F will arrive in 2010, with option for up to 100 vehicles
Sri Lanka - 45
Ukraine - 4
Former operators
Soviet Union - Passed on to successor states.
| BMP-3 | |
|---|---|
 BMP-3 with Namut sight | |
| Type | Infantry fighting vehicle |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Kurganmashzavod |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 18.7 tonnes (18.4 LT; 20.6 ST) |
| Length | 7.14 m (23 ft 5 in) |
| Width | 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in) |
| Height | 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) |
| Crew | 3 (+7 passengers) |
| | |
| Armor | 35 mm (1.4 in) max. frontal armour (est.) |
| Primary armament | 100 mm gun/launcher 2A70, 30 mm autocannon 2A72 |
| Secondary armament | 3×7.62 mm PKT machine guns |
| Engine | UTD-29M diesel 500 hp (375 kW) |
| Power/weight | 27 hp/tonne |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
| Operational range | 600 km (370 mi) |
| Speed | 72 km/h (45 mph) (road) 45 km/h (28 mph) (off-road) 10 km/h (6.2 mph) (water) |
Infantry Fighting Vehicle BMP 3 Video
