Infantry fighting vehicles BMP-3 with unmanned combat module Epoch will become operational for test trials, the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sept. 7.

The BMP-3 fitted with the Epoch unmanned combat module was unveiled during Army 2015 exhibition

"The latest infantry fighting vehicles with unmanned Epoch combat module will be supplied to the troops for test operations. According to a state contract signed with the producer, the Russian Defense Ministry will test 13 vehicles," it said.

The ministry signed contracts worth 4 bln rubles with the Vysokotochnye Kompleksy (High-Precision Complexes) Holding and the Instrument-Manufacturing Design Bureau (KBP) at the Army-2017 forum for the delivery of the first batch of BMP-3 with the Epoch combat module and spare parts for Pantsir-S1 complexes.

The new unmanned Epoch combat module designed by the KPB is designated for perspective armored vehicles. It is remotely controlled from the commander’s and pointer’s panel and does not occupy any space inside the vehicle. The armaments include 30mm 2A42 automatic gun, coaxial 7.62mm PKT machinegun and antitank missile complexes Kornet-EM and Bulat.

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