Russian army tests its new BMP B-19 armed with 57mm cannon and Kornet-EM missiles

According to information published by the Russian Ministry of Defense, the new Russian-made BMP B-19 tracked armored IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) has been deployed during the military exercise Zapad-2021 at the Mulino training ground in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
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The Russian-made BMP B-19 tracked armored IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle armed with one 57mm cannon, four Kornet-EM anti-tank missiles and Bulat missiles. (Picture source Russian MoD)

The BMP B-19 is the latest version of tracked armored IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) in the family of BMP-3. The standard turret of the BMP-3 has been removed and replaced by the Epokha, an unmanned weapon station developed the Russian company KPB to upgraded BMP-3.

For the BMP B-19, all the crew members are seated inside the hull of the vehicle. Commander and gunner can control of the firing operations using remotely controlled weapon station from inside of the vehicle.

According to Russian military sources, the new BMP B-19 could enter into service with the Russian army in 2022.

The Russian BMP-3 IFV entered production in the late 1980s and entered into service with the Russian Army officially in 1987. According to the Military Balance 2020, 540 BMP-3 vehicles are in service with the Russian Army and over 600 have been exported to different countries all over the world, including Azerbaijan, Iraq, Libya, Morocco, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Cyprus, Indonesia, Kuwait, Venezuela and South Korea.

The BMP B-19 offers a new firepower while maintaining mobility of the standard BMP-3 IFV. The Epokha turret is armed with one 57mm cannon, four Kornet-EM anti-tank missiles and a Bulat guided missile system. The Kornet missile can be used to destroy main battle tanks while the Bulat missile has been designed to engage light armored targets.

The use of a 57mm automatic cannon allows the BMP B-19 to be more efficient to destroy light armored vehicles. The Kornet-EM is an improved version of the standard Kornet anti-tank-guided missiles which has increased range, and an improved warhead. It has a maximum firing range of 10,000 m and be also used against aerial targets as helicopters.

The BMP B-19 also features new information and control systems coupled to the armament offering new capabilities to search, detect and recognize enemy targets.