Russia: Ural tank division receives upgraded IFV

Six BMP-2M infantry fighting vehicles were supplied to the tank division of the Central Military District deployed in the Ural mounts, aide to district commander Yaroslav Roshchupkin said. "Six BMP-2Ms arrived to the tank division by defense procurement order. The upgraded hardware is distinguished by better sights and a new radio station. It was accepted by a tank regiment of Chebarkul garrison," he said.

BMP-2M (Picture source: www.roe.ru)

The Berezhok combat compartment increased the capabilities of the fighting vehicle nearly four-fold against its predecessor BMP-2.

The main modernization guideline of BMP-2 with Berezhok is the installation of automatic round-the-clock fire control with guided Kornet weapons which destroy heavy armor at a distance of 8 km and air targets in a range of 10 km.

The Instrument-Manufacturing Design Bureau initiated the new arms complex on the basis of serial BMP-2 turret with automatic gun and 30mm automatic machinegun AGS-30. The complex offers a series of radical innovations and technological solutions which ensure firepower supremacy over the US M2A3 Bradley IFV nearly 1.9-fold. BMP-2 with the set of armaments surpasses by 3.8 times the ordinary BMP-2.

The BMP-2M infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) is an upgraded version of the BMP-2. Designed and developed by Kurganmashzavod JSC, this IFV offers improved mobility and firepower. The weapon system for the upgraded vehicle is provided by KBP Instrument Design Bureau. The upgraded vehicle is being offered in two different configurations, which include BMP-2M (sb4-2) and BMP-2M (sb4-3).

The BMP-2M has a crew of three (driver, gunner and commander) and transports up to seven soldiers. The vehicle retains the design specifications of BMP-2, and measures 6.73m-long, 3.15m-wide and 2.45-high. The combat weight of the vehicle is approximately 16,000kg.

The BMP-2M IFV is armed with a Berezhok (B05S011) combat module integrating four 9M133 Kornet series anti-tank guided missiles. The missiles are launched from the twin launchers mounted on either side of the turret. The turret is also armed with a 30mm 2A42 automatic gun, a 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun and a 30mm AG-17 automatic grenade launcher (AGL). The 30mm cannon can fire 500 rounds/minute, while the 7.62mm machinegun offers fires 2,000 rounds/minute. The AGL can launch 250 grenades a minute at a maximum range of 1,730m.

An armament stabiliser and ballistic computer, as well as a BPK-3-42 gunner’s sight are fitted to the vehicle enable the firing of main armament. The vehicle is also installed with PL-1 laser illuminator. The target detection ranges of the vehicle during the day and night are 5,000m and 3,000m respectively.

The BMP-2M IFV is equipped with a multi-channel optical system for view stabilisation during firing. The vehicle has an advanced target detection system, a laser range-finder and a thermal imaging system.

The hull of the IFV is protected by appliqué armour, which enables the vehicle to withstand 12.7mm B-3232 rounds and high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) missiles.

The BMP-2M IFV is equipped with a six-cylinder, four-stroke UTD-23 supercharged, direct-injection diesel engine developing 360hp. The upgraded variant has a power-to-weight ratio of 22.5 hp/tonne.

It can reach 65km/h on road, and 7km/h on water. The cruising range is 600 km.