IDET 2019: Slovak upgrade of BVP-2 BMP-2 IFV in live demonstration.

During IDET 2019, the International Fair of Defence and Security Technology, Slovak Defense industry presents in live mobility demonstration, its new upgrade of BVP-2 tracked armored IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle), a Soviet-made BMP-2 produced under license in the Czech Republic.

New Slovak BVP-2 upgrade in live mobility demonstration at IDET 2019, defense exhibition in Brno, Czech Republic. May 30, 2019.(Picture source Army Recognition)

On May 29, 2018, the Slovak Ministry of Defense has taken delivery of 21 upgraded BVP-2 tracked armored IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) during a handover ceremony at the Specialist Testing Branch Lieskovec, a facility of Dubnica nad Váhom-based Konštrukta Defence in Slovakia. The vehicles, configured in two variants, are configured for ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance) and mechanized units.

Of the 21 upgraded tracked armored fighting vehicles, 11 vehicles went to ISTAR Battalion Prešov and 10 to mechanized units. A total of 35 tracked armored fighting vehicles will be modernized as part of this vehicle uplift project.

The upgraded BVP-2 is fitted with new weapon station. The old turret of BVP-2 is replaced by the remotely controlled weapon station (RCWS) TURRA 30. The turret is armed with one 30 mm cannon, one 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, an anti-tank guided missile system and smoke grenade launchers covering an area of 120°. Two launchers for anti-tank guided missile Konkurs are mounted to the left side of the turret.

The upgraded vehicle was built using a new modified chassis of the BVP-2, but according to the pictures released by the Slovak Ministry of Defense, the modernized version of the BVP-2 keeps the same chassis, only the old BVP-2 turret is replaced by a remotely operated weapon station similar to the Sakal project.

The Sakal is an armored infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) based on the original technology demonstrator BVP-M2 SKCZ created by the EXCALIBUR ARMY in cooperation with other Czech and Slovak defense industry companies to show the upgrade potential of the old BMP vehicle family. The BVP-M2 SKCZ is a modernized version of the BVP-2, local production of Russian-made BMP-2.