slide 2 of 3

BMD-4M and BTR-MDM airborne armoured vehicles enter officially in service with Russian army TASS 13004163.

Defence & Security News - Russia

BMD-4M and BTR-MDM airborne armoured vehicles enter officially in service with Russian army.

Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has officially brought into service BMD-4M Sadovnitsa (Gardener) airborne infantry fighting vehicle (AIFV) and BTR-MDM Rakushka (Shell) armoured personnel carrier (APC) developed by the Tractor Plants concern, according to a Russian military source.

Russian BMD-4M airborne armoured infantry fighting vehicle at rehearsal in Alabino of 2016 Victory Day Parade, April 22, 2016 (Photo Copyright Vitaly Kuzmin)

"Both vehicles have successfully passed trials, shooting their cuffs. Russian Government issued the related ordinance in mid-April," the source said. BMD-4M Sadovnitsa is the latest development of BMD-4 Bakhcha (Melon Field) AIFV. BMD-4M features new hull, engine, chassis, applique armour plates and other components. The vehicle is equipped with Bakhcha-U manned combat turret. Bakhcha-U has received 100mm 2A70 gun-launcher, 30mm 2A72 automatic cannon and 7.62mm PKT/PKTM coaxial machinegun. BTR-MDM Rakushka air-droppable APC based on BMD-4 is intended for replacement of ageing BTR-D carriers with Russian Airborne Forces (Russian acronym: VDV). The vehicle features 12.7mm 6P49 Kord heavy machinegun as the main weapon. Earlier, the Vice-President and a part-owner of the Tractor Plants concern, Albert Bakov said that the company would be able to launch the production of approximately 200 BMD-4M and BTR-MDM vehicle on an annual basis in late 2016. Russian MoD is planning to get up to 250 BMD-4M/BTR-MDM vehicles within three years under the continuing contract.

Russian BTR-MDM airborne armoured personnel carrier (APC) at rehearsal in Alabino of 2016 Victory Day Parade, April 22, 2016 (Photo Copyright Vitaly Kuzmin)

© Copyright 2016 TASS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.