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Syrian rebels use BMP-1 armoured infantry fighting vehicle upgraded with local armour package 180114

Syrian rebels upgrade armour package BMP-1

Saturday, January 18, 2014 02:09 PM

Syrian rebels use BMP-1 armoured infantry fighting vehicle upgraded with local armour package.

A video found on internet shows a Russian-made armoured infantry fighting vehicle BMP-1 used by the Syrian rebels upgraded with an armour package. The video was released on December 17, 2013 by the insurgent grouping Jaish al-Islam. The video was taken during a military operation by the Syrian rebels against buildings in the suburbs east of Damascus.

Today, the BMP-1 is still in service with many armed forces in the world but the protection of the vehicle is not adapted against the new threats of the modern battlefield. Many countries are on the way to propose upgrade of the BMP-1 with armour package and increase the fire power.

The turret of the Syrian upgraded BMP-1 is fitted with wire cage armour around the turret to increase the protection against RPG-7 (Rocket-Propelled Grenade) weapons.

The Syrian BMP-1 uses the same armament as the standard Russian-made BMP-1 which includes a 73 mm 2A28, a 7.62mm PKT machine gun and one launcher a Kolomna KBM 9K 11 Malyutka AT-3 `Sagger' wire-guided ATGW (Ant-Tank Guided Weapon).

For the Syrian upgraded BMP-1, the front of the chassis is fitted with armour plates to increase protection against direct fire.

Each side of the hull is fitted with passive armour package and the upper par is fitted with bar armour. There are four firing ports in each side of the hull but they are probably no longer usable with the new armour.

Over the top of the hull are four roof hatches, two each side, which are hinged in the centre and can be locked vertically. The soldiers can always fire from the roof of the vehicle.

The rear part of the vehicle is fitted with two doors which have integral fuel tanks. The rear doors of the Syrian upgraded BMP-1 is fitted with extra armour plates to withstand weapons that can penetrate the original armour of the vehicle.