Russia needs a new amphibious armoured infantry fighting vehicle for its Marine troops 0802132.

"The vehicle must be of the proper size, much larger than the current BMP-2, BMP-3 and BTR-80. Consequently, its weight must total approximately 30 tonnes," Izvestiya's interlocutor at the Navy Main Command said.

The seamen's other requirements are - a mandatory passive defense complex (TNT blocks are attached to the armor from the outside so that, when a projectile hits, the directional counter explosion would absorb its destructive force). It is also desirable to equip the vehicle with an Arena type active defense complex (onboard launchers fire a hail of metal balls, which intercept a flying projectile at a distance of 25 meters).

Finally, the new naval infantry vehicle must totally support the amphibious assault force with fire and combat- all possible threats, including tanks and helicopters. Therefore, its weapons will not lag behind the BMP-2, which has a 30 millimeter gun, a 7.62 millimeter machinegun and an antitank guided missile launcher.

According to information from the Russian Ministry of Defense, the request from the Russian naval infantry battalions for both Mistrals and also the weapons have already been determined and, therefore, they decided to reject the advanced Kurganets-25 and BMP-3F amphibious armored vehicles.

The developer of the new large armored vehicle will be determined in 2013 based upon the results of an open competition. During the spring of next year, the winner of the tender must defend its design before a Ministry of Defense commission and production will begin after this.