BMP-1 tracked armored IFV continues to be in service with Ukrainian army

The Soviet-made BMP-1 tracked armored IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) continues to be in service with the Ukrainian armed forces. In 2018, the SE SFTE “SpetsTechnoExport”, which is a part of the State Concern “Ukroboronprom”, delivered to Ukrainian army fifty BMP-1 tracked armored IFV.

BMP-1 tracked armored IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicles of Ukrainian army (Picture source SE SFTE)

The delivered BMPs have never been in service and were stored at the capacities of licensed enterprises of the European Union. During 2017-2018, BMP-1 completed a major overhaul with the replacement of all the necessary components, in accordance with the technical specifications of the EU repair factories. The last batch of the contracted BMP-1 IFVs armored was delivered to Ukrainian army in December 2018.

The first production of the Soviet-made BMP-1 was completed for trials and the vehicle made its first public appearance in Moscow during a military parade in November 1967. The BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle is in service with many armies around the world. It showed its worth in action in numerous regional conflicts. Taking into consideration the increasing requirements for the effectiveness of infantry fighting vehicles, the Russian defense industry is currently involved in modernizing the existing fleet of the BMP-1.

The hull of the BMP-1 IFV is made of all-welded steel which provides protection against firing of small arms and artillery shell splinters. The BMP-1 is fitted with a one-man turret which is armed with one 73 mm Model 2A28 smoothbore, low-pressure, short-recoil gun which weighs 115 kg. The second armament includes one 7.62 mm PKT machine gun is mounted coaxially to the right of the 73 mm 2A28 cannon.

Mounted over the main armament is a launcher for a Kolomna KBM 9K 11 Malyutka AT-3 `Sagger' wire-guided ATGW. The `Sagger' has a minimum range of 500 m and a maximum range of 3,000 m.

The BMP-1 has a crew of three including the driver, commander, and gunner. The troop compartment is at the rear with the eight infantrymen seated back-to-back, four down each side of the hull. They enter and leave by two doors located at the rear of the hull.

The BMP-1 can run at a maximum speed of 65 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 600 km. The BMP-1 IFV is fully amphibious being propelled in the water by its tracks at a maximum speed of 7 km/h.