BMP-3
Encyclopedia : B : BM : BMP : BMP-3
| |
| BMP-3 | |
|---|---|
| General characteristics | |
| Crew | 3 (+7 passengers) |
| Length | 7.14 m |
| Width | 3.2 m |
| Height | 2.4 m |
| Weight | 18.7 tonnes |
| Armour and armament | |
| Armour | 35mm max |
| Main armament | 100mm gun/launcher 2A70, 30mm autocannon 2A72 |
| Secondary armament | 3×7.62mm PKT machine guns |
| Mobility | |
| Power plant | diesel 500 hp (375 kW) |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
| Road speed | 70 km/h |
| Power/weight | 27 hp/tonne |
| Range | 600 km |
The BMP-3 is a Soviet infantry fighting vehicle which was first introduced 1990. BMP stands for Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty (Боевая Машина Пехоты, literally "Combat Vehicle of Infantry") [†].
Production history
The BMP-3, introduced in 1990, is a development of the BMP-1 and BMP-2. It is armed with a 100mm main gun/launcher, which can fire conventional HE-Frag shells or AT-10 Stabber ATGMs, a 30mm autocannon, and a 7.62mm machine gun, all mounted coaxially in the turret. There are also two 7.62mm bow machine guns.The BMP-3 is capable of engaging targets out to 4,000 meters, with its ATGM weapon system (with an approximately eighty percent probability of a hit at that range). The U.S. M1 Abrams main battle tank is capable of hitting a tank-sized target with a probability of fifty percent at 4,000 meters. The AT-10 is capable of penetrating the armour of all MBTs currently deployed. All weapons can be fired from a halt, on the move and afloat with the same effectiveness, according to the manufacturer. However, the AT-10 Stabber suffers from the drawback of all ATGMs: the missile has a long flight time, giving the enemy time to take evasive action or fire back. Like the majority of ATGMs, the elimination of the launching platform means the missile ceases to receive information on the target, and thus will drop out of the sky.
Variants
- BMP-3
- BMP-3 M1995 - AT-14 Kornet ATGM
- BRM-3 - reconnaissance variant with 1PN71 thermal sight (3.7x/11x, 3km range), 1PN65 second-generation Image Intensifier (7x, 1.2-1.5km range), and Tall Mike I-band surveillance radar (3km man, 12km vehicle).
- BMP-3K - Command variant, includes additional radios and Ainet round fuzing capability.
- BMP-3M - upgraded version with uprated engine and thermal sights.
Inventory
The BMP-3 is in service with Russia and has been exported to:
- Cyprus, 43 vehicles
- Kuwait, 110 vehicles
- South Korea, 70 vehicles
- Sri Lanka,at least 36 vehicles
- Syria
- United Arab Emirates, 390 vehicles
- Azerbaijan
See also
- British Warrior Tracked Armoured Vehicle
- French AMX-10P
- German Schützenpanzer Marder
- German Schützenpanzer Puma
- Swedish CV90 IFV
- US M113 APC
- US M2 Bradley IFV
External links
- [Kurganmashzavod] manufacturer's site.
- [BMP-3] at Army Technology
- [BMP-3] at fas.org
- [BMP-3] at www.army-guide.com
- [Kurganmashzavod] at www.army-guide.com
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